Property and Equipment - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Property and equipment
Impairment of long-lived assets | $		$ 145,918
Number of other satellites to be relocated in the event of failure or loss of any satellite	1
AWS-4 Satellites
Property and equipment
Number of satellites in-orbit	2
Number of satellites under construction	1
EchoStar XV
Property and equipment
Estimated Useful Life	15 years
EchoStar XVI
Property and equipment
Term of renewal option	5 years
EchoStar XVIII
Property and equipment
Estimated Useful Life	15 years
EchoStar XVIII, including capitalized interest
Property and equipment
Number of satellites utilized in geostationary orbit approximately 22,300 miles above the equator	11
Owned Satellites	2
Number of satellites utilized under operating lease	7
Number of satellites utilized under capital lease	2
T1
Property and equipment
Estimated Useful Life	14 years 3 months
Net book value of long-lived assets before impairment | $	$ 246,000
Net book value of long-lived assets | $	$ 100,000