Property and Equipment (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property and equipment
Construction in progress	$ 109,821	$ 455,186
EchoStar XIX
Property and equipment
Construction in progress	11,886	9,325
EchoStar XVI
Property and equipment
Construction in progress		345,090
Satellite under construction: Other
Property and equipment
Construction in progress	37,353	25,710
Uplinking equipment
Property and equipment
Construction in progress	35,046	37,264
Construction in progress: Other
Property and equipment
Construction in progress	$ 25,536	$ 37,797

Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived assets under construction that include construction costs to date on capital projects that have not been completed and assets being constructed that are not ready to be placed into service.

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

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