Capital distribution to related party.

No definition available.

Name:	ddbs_CapitalDistributionToRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of expenses, fees and commissions paid for transactions between the related parties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_PaymentsToRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the additional term of renewal option.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementAdditionalRenewalOptionTerm
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the related party transactions renewal option term.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementRenewalOptionTerm
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the related party transactions agreement term.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementTerm
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the related party transactions agreement term from commencement of service date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementTermFromCommencementOfServiceDate
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to required notice period for termination of agreement by the reporting entity under the related party transactions agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementTerminationNoticeRequiredByReportingEntity
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the related party transactions agreement term with third party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementTermWithThirdParty
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the number of DBS transponders available to receive services under the related party transactions agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsNumberOfDBSTranspondersAvailable
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the number of DBS transponders expected to receive services under the related party transactions agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsNumberOfDBSTranspondersExpectedToReceiveServices
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the number of transponders subleased under the related party transactions agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsNumberOfDBSTranspondersSubleased
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the number of DBS transponders currently used under related party transactions agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsNumberOfDBSTranspondersUsed
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Related party transactions required notice period for termination of agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsRequiredNoticePeriodForTerminationOfAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=ddbs_EchoStarMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=ddbs_EchoStarXVIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Related Party Transactions (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	May 31, 2010	Mar. 02, 2014	May 31, 2013	Dec. 21, 2012	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2012 transponder	Dec. 31, 2008 transponder	May 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Jan. 02, 2012
EchoStar XVI
Related Party Transactions
Notice period to exercise option to extend agreement	6 years	6 years
EchoStar \| Certain Sports Related Programming Broadcast Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Agreement term			10 years
EchoStar \| EchoStar VIII
Related Party Transactions
Notice period for termination of agreement				30 days	30 days
EchoStar \| EchoStar XVI
Related Party Transactions
Agreement term from commencement of service date						4 years	10 years
Notice period to exercise option to extend agreement	6 years	6 years
Additional term of renewal option	5 years	5 years
EchoStar \| DISH Nimiq 5 Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Agreement term							10 years
Agreement term with third party							15 years
Number of DBS transponders available to receive services							32
Number of DBS transponders currently used							32
EchoStar \| QuetzSat-1 Lease Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Agreement term with third party									10 years
Number of DBS transponders currently used									32
Number of DBS transponders expected to receive services									24
Number of transponders subleased								5
EchoStar \| 103 degree orbital location member
Related Party Transactions
Agreement term										10 years
Payments to the related party											$ 23
Net book value of asset											20
Capital distribution											$ 3
Agreement term from commencement of service date		10 years
EchoStar \| TT&C Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity	60 days	60 days
EchoStar \| Prior Broadcast Agreement \| Minimum
Related Party Transactions
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity												60 days
EchoStar \| Prior TT&C Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity												60 days