Investment Securities (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Investment Securities
Debt securities with contractual maturities of one year or less	$ 840.0
Debt securities with contractual maturities exceeding one year	$ 140.7

Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing after the next rolling twelve months following the latest balance sheet presented.

No definition available.

Name:	sats_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterNextRollingTwelveMonthsFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	sats_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant