Stock-Based Compensation - Stock Options Outstanding And Exercisable Associated With Employees (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 80.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	8,847,734
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 2 months 12 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 43.90
Number of stock options exercisable	1,772,608
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 4 months 6 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 35.13
Stock Options | DISH Network Awards
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	8,847,734	7,913,733	6,807,169	10,214,344
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 43.90	$ 36.22	$ 31.17	$ 25.29
Number of stock options exercisable	1,772,608	1,883,533	1,927,069
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 35.13	$ 29.98	$ 26.87
Range of Exercise Prices $00.00 - $10.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 10.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	133,400
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 1 month 24 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 6.33
Number of stock options exercisable	133,400
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 1 month 24 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 6.33
Range Of Exercise Prices $10.01 - $20.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	10.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 20.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	1,232,537
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 5 months 27 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 15.37
Number of stock options exercisable	32,537
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 3 months
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 15.13
Range of Exercise Prices $20.01 - $30.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	20.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 30.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	1,402,183
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 8 months 9 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 27.13
Number of stock options exercisable	862,183
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 7 months 24 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 26.65
Range of Exercise Prices $30.01 - $40.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	30.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 40.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	1,219,586
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 11 months 16 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 36.19
Number of stock options exercisable	257,886
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 9 months
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 35.06
Range of Exercise Prices $40.01 - $50.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	40.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 50.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	360,800
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 46.21
Number of stock options exercisable	67,600
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 4 months 21 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 45.89
Range of Exercise Prices $50.01 - $60.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	50.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 60.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	2,910,878
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years 4 months 24 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 57.55
Number of stock options exercisable	228,152
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 6 months 4 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 57.16
Range of Exercise Prices $60.01 - $70.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	60.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 70.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	1,568,350
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years 3 months 26 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 64.26
Number of stock options exercisable	170,850
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 4 months 13 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 66.26
Range of Exercise Prices $70.01 - $70.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	70.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 80.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	20,000
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 72.89
Number of stock options exercisable	20,000
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 72.89