Debt instrument term.

No definition available.

Name:	ddbs_DebtInstrumentTerm
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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- Definition

Debt repurchase price percentage in the event of change of control.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_DebtRepurchasePricePercentageInEventOfChangeOfControl
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Long-term debt issue price as a percentage of principal amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_LongTermDebtIssuePriceAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmount
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Long-term debt redemption price as a percentage of principal amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_LongTermDebtRedemptionPriceAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Long-term debt redemption with net proceeds from equity offerings as a percentage of principal amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_LongTermDebtRedemptionWithNetProceedsFromEquityOfferingsAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmount
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Decrease for amounts repaid on the debt instrument for the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 4

-Section 08

-Paragraph f

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDecreaseRepayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the required periodic payments applied to interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2011	Sep. 30, 2011 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 7 % Senior Notes due 2013	Jun. 30, 2012 7 % Senior Notes due 2013	Dec. 31, 2011 6 5/8% Senior Notes due 2014	Jun. 30, 2012 6 5/8% Senior Notes due 2014	Dec. 31, 2011 7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2015	Jun. 30, 2012 7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2015	Dec. 31, 2011 7 1/8% Senior Notes due 2016	Jun. 30, 2012 7 1/8% Senior Notes due 2016	Dec. 31, 2011 7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019	Jun. 30, 2012 7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019	Oct. 05, 2009 7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019	Aug. 17, 2009 7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019	Dec. 31, 2011 7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019 Redemption Prior to September 1, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021	Jun. 30, 2012 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021	May 05, 2011 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021	Dec. 31, 2011 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021 Redemption Prior to June 1, 2014	May 31, 2012 4 5/8% senior notes due 2017	Jun. 30, 2012 4 5/8% senior notes due 2017	May 16, 2012 4 5/8% senior notes due 2017	Jul. 31, 2012 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022	May 31, 2012 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022	Jul. 26, 2012 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022	Jun. 30, 2012 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022	May 16, 2012 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument
Repayments of debt		$ 915,000,000	$ 85,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.375%		6.375%	7.00%	7.00%	6.625%	6.625%	7.75%	7.75%	7.125%	7.125%	7.875%	7.875%				6.75%	6.75%				4.625%					5.875%
Percentage of principal amount at which the entity may redeem some or all of the notes at any time				100.00%		100.00%		100.00%		100.00%		100.00%					100.00%					100.00%					100.00%
Percentage of principal amount at which notes may be required to be repurchased in event of change of control				101.00%		101.00%		101.00%		101.00%		101.00%					101.00%					101.00%					101.00%
Aggregate principal amount														400,000,000	1,000,000,000				2,000,000,000				900,000,000					1,000,000,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)												10 years					10 years				5 years			10 years	10 years
Debt instrument issuance as a percentage of the face amount														101.75%	97.467%				99.093%				100.00%			100.75%		100.00%
Maximum percentage of the aggregate principal amount of notes with net proceeds of certain equity offerings or capital contributions																35.00%				35.00%		35.00%					35.00%
Annual Debt Service Requirements				$ 35,000,000		$ 66,250,000		$ 58,125,000		$ 106,875,000		$ 110,250,000					$ 135,000,000