Stockholders' Equity - Preferred Stock and Common Stock (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 shares vote $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares shares	Mar. 01, 2014 shares	Feb. 28, 2014 $ / shares shares
Class A common stock
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)
Votes per share | vote	1
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	48,131,541	46,711,147
Class B common stock
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)
Votes per share | vote	10
Number of shares of Class A common stock into which each share of common stock is convertible	1
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	47,687,039	47,687,039
Class C common stock
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)
Votes per share | vote	1
Votes per share in event of change of control | vote	10
Number of shares of Class A common stock into which each share of common stock is convertible	1
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Class D common stock
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	0	13,000,000		13,000,000
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.001	$ 0.001		$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	6,290,499
Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock | DISH Network
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)			6,290,499