Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Net income (loss) attributable to EchoStar
Net income attributable to EchoStar	$ 26,224	$ 22,554	$ 35,682	$ 126,588	$ (12,890)	$ (19,117)	$ 18,482	$ 17,164	$ 211,048	$ 3,639	$ 204,358
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)									87,150,000	86,223,000	85,084,000
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)									809,000	866,000	119,000
Diluted (in shares)									87,959,000	87,089,000	85,203,000
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29	$ 0.26	$ 0.41	$ 1.46	$ (0.15)	$ (0.22)	$ 0.21	$ 0.20	$ 2.42	$ 0.04	$ 2.40
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.26	$ 0.41	$ 1.45	$ (0.15)	$ (0.22)	$ 0.21	$ 0.19	$ 2.40	$ 0.04	$ 2.40
Performance based options | Class A common stock
Dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share
Dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									632,000	659,000	697,000
Restricted stock units | Class A common stock
Dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share
Dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									65,000	74,000	93,000
Long-term performance based plans | Class A common stock
Dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share
Dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									697,000	733,000	790,000
Stock awards | Class A common stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									4,400,000	4,000,000	5,900,000