Related Party Transactions (Details) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended																						9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2014 USD ($) satellite	May 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 30, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	May 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014 satellite	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2010	Feb. 28, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009 transponder	Nov. 30, 2008 transponder	Sep. 30, 2016 term	Dec. 31, 2009	Aug. 31, 2014	Feb. 28, 2013 transponder	Jul. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)
Sling TV Holding
Related party transactions
Equity interest in joint venture																												33.00%
Non-voting interest in joint venture																										10.00%
EchoStar XVI
Related party transactions
Term of renewal option																								5 years
Hughes Broadband Distribution Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term																	5 years
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																								180 days
Automatic renewal period																								1 year
DISH Network | Sling TV Holding
Related party transactions
Ownership interest acquired by related party																										90.00%		67.00%
Voting interests acquired by related party																										100.00%
DISH Network | 2012 Receiver Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																								60 days
Agreement term											1 year			1 year
DISH Network | Broadcast Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																								60 days
DISH Network | Broadcast Agreement for Certain Sports Related Programming
Related party transactions
Agreement term																			10 years
DISH Network | RUS Implementation Agreement
Related party transactions
Grants receivable | $																														$ 14.1
DISH Network | Echo Star V I I
Related party transactions
Agreement term										1 year
DISH Network | EchoStar VIII capacity leased to Dish Network
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																								30 days
DISH Network | EchoStar XVI
Related party transactions
Agreement term								1 year																	10 years
Agreement term from commencement of service date																4 years
Reduction in term of first renewal option								1 year
Term of renewal option																								5 years
Additional term of renewal option																								5 years
DISH Network | DISH Nimiq 5 Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term from commencement of service date																						10 years
Number of DBS transponders available to receive services																						32
DISH Network | QuetzSat-1 Transponder
Related party transactions
Number of DBS transponders currently receiving services																							24
Number of DBS transponders currently receiving services subleased back from related party																											5
DISH Network | Service agreement to lease certain satellite capacity | Ciel
Related party transactions
Agreement term																		10 years
DISH Network | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction
Related party transactions
Proceeds from issuance of Tracking Stock | $	$ 11.4
DISH Network | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction | EchoStar and HSSC
Related party transactions
Number of owned satellites transferred | satellite	5														5
Proceeds from issuance of Tracking Stock | $	$ 11.4
DISH Network | TT&C Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																								60 days
DISH Network | Inverness Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																								6 months
Required minimum notice for termination or agreement if month-to-month																								30 days
DISH Network | Meridian Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination or agreement if month-to-month																								30 days
DISH Network | Santa Fe Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination or agreement if month-to-month																								30 days
DISH Network | Gilbert Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																								30 days
DISH Network | Cheyenne Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination or agreement if month-to-month																								30 days
DISH Network | Product Support Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																								60 days
DISH Network | DISHOnline.com Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																								120 days
Agreement term											1 year		1 year								2 years
Term of renewal option																								1 year
DISH Network | DISH Remote Access Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																								120 days
Agreement term																				5 years
Automatic renewal period																								1 year
DISH Network | SlingService Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																								120 days
Agreement term																				5 years
Automatic renewal period																								1 year
DISH Network | Set-Top Box Application Development Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term									1 year
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																								90 days
Automatic renewal period																								1 year
DISH Network | XiP Encryption Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																								30 days
Required minimum notice period for termination of agreement by the reporting entity																								180 days
DISH Network | DBSD North America Agreement
Related party transactions
Ownership interest acquired by related party																													100.00%
DISH Network | Remanufactured Receiver Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term											1 year	1 year
Required minimum notice period for termination of agreement by the reporting entity																								60 days
DISH Network | EchoStar XV capacity leased from Dish Network
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																								30 days
DISH Network | Professional Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																								60 days
Automatic renewal period																								1 year
Required minimum notice for termination of individual service																								30 days
DISH Network | El Paso Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Term of renewal option																								3 years
Number of successive three year renewal options | term																								4
DISH Network | Subsequent Event | 2012 Receiver Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term							1 year
DISH Network | Subsequent Event | Broadcast Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term							1 year
DISH Network | Subsequent Event | TT&C Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term							1 year
DISH Network | Subsequent Event | Gilbert Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term							1 year
DISH Network | Subsequent Event | DISH Remote Access Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term					1 year
DISH Network | Subsequent Event | SlingService Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term					1 year
DISH Network | Subsequent Event | TerreStar Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party		180 days		60 days
Agreement term		5 years	1 year	1 year
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement			90 days
DISH Network | Subsequent Event | DBSD North America Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party			120 days
Agreement term			1 year		5 years
DISH Network | Subsequent Event | Remanufactured Receiver Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term							1 year
DISH Network | Subsequent Event | Professional Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term						1 year
Telesat Canada | TeleSat Transponder Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term																						15 years
Number of DBS transponders available to receive services																						32
SES Latin America | QuetzSat-1 Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term																							10 years
Number of DBS transponders expected to receive services																							32
Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock | DISH Network
Related party transactions
Percentage of economic interest held																								80.00%
Hughes Retail Group | Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock | DISH Network | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction
Related party transactions
Percentage of economic interest held	80.00%																							80.00%