Stock-Based Compensation - Stock Award Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 04, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Stock option activity
Total options outstanding, end of period (in shares)		17,403,339
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Total options outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 32.59
Ergen 2020 Performance Award
Stock option activity
Granted (in shares)	12,500,000
Additional disclosures
Granted (in shares)	12,500,000
2019 LTIP
Stock option activity
Total options outstanding, end of period (in shares)		1,996,268
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Total options outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 34.75
Stock options
Stock option activity
Total options outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)		13,715,612	14,202,039	8,847,734
Granted (in shares)		15,410,500	1,538,250	7,494,012
Exercised (in shares)		(714,595)	(714,061)	(267,905)
Forfeited and cancelled (in shares)		(1,162,855)	(1,310,616)	(1,871,802)
Total options outstanding, end of period (in shares)		27,248,662	13,715,612	14,202,039
Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)		5,193,238	2,507,834	1,781,153
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Total options outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 41.71	$ 42.08	$ 43.90
Granted (in dollars per share)		28.71	33.44	38.41
Exercised (in dollars per share)		17.44	27.46	16.43
Forfeited and cancelled (in dollars per share)		45.17	43.72	39.67
Total options outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)		34.85	41.71	42.08
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)		$ 40.21	$ 44.93	$ 41.41
Share-based compensation additional disclosures
Tax benefit from stock awards exercised		$ 7,576	$ 1,239	$ 1,664
Additional disclosures
Granted (in shares)		15,410,500	1,538,250	7,494,012
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding		$ 66,497
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercisable		$ 3,719
Stock options | 2019 LTIP
Stock option activity
Total options outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)		7,965,501	8,969,886
Total options outstanding, end of period (in shares)		17,403,339	7,965,501	8,969,886
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Total options outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 40.10	$ 40.34
Total options outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 32.59	$ 40.10	$ 40.34