Earnings per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Net income (loss) attributable to EchoStar
Net income (loss) attributable to EchoStar	$ (9,759)	$ 35,682	$ (6,301)	$ 162,270
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	88,179,000	87,127,000	88,681,000	86,905,000
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)		687,000		696,000
Diluted (in shares)	88,179,000	87,814,000	88,681,000	87,601,000
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.11)	$ 0.41	$ (0.07)	$ 1.87
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.11)	$ 0.41	$ (0.07)	$ 1.85
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)			700,000	700,000
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)			1,400,000	5,600,000