Earnings per Share (Details 3) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Net income attributable to EchoStar
Net income attributable to EchoStar	$ 28,835	$ 60,168	$ 89,983	$ 103,027
Less: Net loss attributable to EchoStar Tracking Stock	(1,267)	(3,887)	(7,421)	(7,474)
Net income attributable to EchoStar common Stock	$ 30,102	$ 64,055	$ 97,404	$ 110,501
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	92,500	91,358	92,253	91,050
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)	993	1,613	1,227	1,673
Diluted (in shares)	93,493	92,971	93,480	92,723
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.70	$ 1.06	$ 1.21
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.69	$ 1.04	$ 1.19