Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 378,275,000	$ 318,352,000	$ 265,870,000
Cost of revenue	198,230,000	168,844,000	141,060,000
Gross profit	180,045,000	149,508,000	124,810,000
Selling, general and administrative expense	160,569,000	71,420,000	45,251,000
Impact fee expense	649,000	27,018,000	0
Income from operations	18,827,000	51,070,000	79,559,000
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, including $1,303, $922, and $625, respectively, in amortization of debt issuance costs	(25,079,000)	(10,836,000)	(7,682,000)
Equity in net (losses) earnings of investments	(1,077,000)	(10,138,000)	821,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(3,565,000)	0	(212,000)
Gain on sale of asset	0	0	248,000
Impairment of notes receivable	0	(2,371,000)	0
Gain on lease termination	0	2,801,000	0
Other	1,333,000	842,000	738,000
Total other expense	(28,388,000)	(19,702,000)	(6,087,000)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(9,561,000)	31,368,000	73,472,000
Income tax benefit	981,000	0	0
Net (loss) income	(8,580,000)	31,368,000	73,472,000
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest	6,628,000	0	0
Net (loss) income attributable to Switch, Inc.	$ (15,208,000)	$ 31,368,000	$ 73,472,000
Net (loss) income per share/unit (Note 15):
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.88)	$ 0.16	$ 0.37
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.88)	$ 0.15	$ 0.37
Weighted average shares/units used in computing net (loss) income per share/unit:
Basic (in shares)	8,073,908	199,047,070	196,773,458
Diluted (in shares)	8,073,908	203,461,420	199,272,269
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$ 908,000	$ (86,000)	$ (607,000)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(7,672,000)	31,282,000	72,865,000
Less: comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	6,732,000	0	0
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Switch, Inc.	$ (14,404,000)	$ 31,282,000	$ 72,865,000