Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Feb. 16, 2024	Oct. 12, 2023	Dec. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Purchase of ownership interests		$ 109,000
Non-cash impairment charge				$ 225,017				$ 0					$ 225,017	$ 0	$ 0
Long-Term Deferred Revenue, Distribution and Carriage Payments
Deferred upfront payment, amortization period													10 years
Transfers between levels													$ 0	0
Convertible Long-Term Debt
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Equity Component of Convertible Debt												$ 1,051,000
Deferred taxes				4,557,262				4,930,135					$ 4,557,262	4,930,135
Revenue Recognition
Contract duration of prepaid customers													1 month
Contract duration of postpaid customers													1 month
Period over which devices in installments can be pay by postpaid customers													36 months
Revenue recorded				3,722,013	$ 3,704,516	$ 3,911,577	$ 3,956,982	4,043,373	$ 4,095,451	$ 4,209,963	$ 4,330,620		$ 15,295,088	16,679,407	17,881,106
Revenue, Practical Expedient, Financing Component [true false]													true
Advertising Costs
Advertising expenses													$ 698,000	633,000	535,000
Research and Development
Research and development cost													42,000	45,000	29,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Impairment of long-lived assets													225,017
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current [Abstract]
Trade accounts receivable, net				890,333				953,812					890,333	953,812
Allowance for credit losses				$ 53,991				44,431					$ 53,991	44,431
ASU 2020-06
Convertible Long-Term Debt
Convertible debt reclassified per ASU 2020-06												1,051,000			1,051,344
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Equity Component of Convertible Debt												246,000
Deferred taxes												$ 246,000			$ 245,778
Class B common stock | Northstar Manager LLC
Variable Interest Entity
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage			3.00%
Minimum
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Estimated useful life				2 years									2 years
Business Combinations
Acquired intangible assets, average finite useful life													1 year
Leases
Additional renewal option terms				1 year									1 year
Maximum
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Estimated useful life				40 years									40 years
Business Combinations
Acquired intangible assets, average finite useful life													20 years
Leases
Additional renewal option terms				13 years									13 years
Northstar Spectrum
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Value of ownership interest accrued								96,000						96,000
Value of ownership interest accrued								96,000						96,000
SNR HoldCo
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Value of ownership interest accrued				$ 438,000				368,000					$ 438,000	368,000
Value of ownership interest accrued				$ 438,000				$ 368,000					$ 438,000	$ 368,000
Northstar Manager LLC | Class B common stock
Variable Interest Entity
Ownership percentage			97.00%
Payment For Purchase Agreement			$ 312,000
Northstar Spectrum
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Value of ownership interest accrued		109,000
Purchase of ownership interests		109,000
Value of ownership interest accrued		$ 109,000
SNR HoldCo | Subsequent event
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Purchase of ownership interests	$ 442,000
SNR HoldCo | EchoStar SNR HoldCo LLC | Subsequent event
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Purchase of ownership interests	$ 442,000
BoostUP
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Installment plan period for long term customers													36 months