<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.2.0.25</Version>
  <ReportType />
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>00 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R1.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>01 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/StatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R2.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>02 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/BalanceSheets</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R3.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>021 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/BalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R4.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>03 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/StatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R5.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06001 - Disclosure - General Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>General Information</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/GeneralInformation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R6.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06002 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R7.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06003 - Disclosure - NextView / EnhancedView Programs</LongName>
      <ShortName>NextView / EnhancedView Programs</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/NextviewEnhancedViewPrograms</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R8.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06004 - Disclosure - Information on Segments and Major Customers</LongName>
      <ShortName>Information on Segments and Major Customers</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/InformationOnSegmentsAndMajorCustomers</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R9.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06005 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment</LongName>
      <ShortName>Property and Equipment</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/PropertyAndEquipment</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R10.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06006 - Disclosure - Other Accrued Liabilities and Other Long-Term Liabilities</LongName>
      <ShortName>Other Accrued Liabilities and Other Long-Term Liabilities</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/OtherAccruedLiabilitiesAndOtherLongTermLiabilities</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R11.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06007 - Disclosure - Debt</LongName>
      <ShortName>Debt</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/Debt</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R12.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06008 - Disclosure - Fair Values of Financial Instruments</LongName>
      <ShortName>Fair Values of Financial Instruments</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/FairValuesOfFinancialInstruments</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R13.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06009 - Disclosure - Shareholders' Equity and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Shareholders' Equity and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/ShareholdersEquityAndOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R14.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06010 - Disclosure - Earnings (Loss) Per Share</LongName>
      <ShortName>Earnings (Loss) Per Share</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/EarningsLossPerShare</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R15.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06011 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions</LongName>
      <ShortName>Related Party Transactions</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactions</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R16.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06012 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R17.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06013 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events</LongName>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/SubsequentEvents</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R18.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>06014 - Disclosure - Guarantor Subsidiaries</LongName>
      <ShortName>Guarantor Subsidiaries</ShortName>
      <Role>http://digitalglobe.com/role/GuarantorSubsidiaries</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R19.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
      <Role />
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName />
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <ContextCount>9</ContextCount>
  <SegmentCount>0</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <UnitCount>3</UnitCount>
  <ElementCount>113</ElementCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>45</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>ThreeMonthsEnded_31Mar2011</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>63</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>ThreeMonthsEnded_31Mar2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>35</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_29Apr2011</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>46</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Mar2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
  </ContextSummary>
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
