Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule Of Cumulative Effects Change (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net	$ 166,182	$ 189,737	$ 196,840
Other current assets	13,163	92,204	91,671
Investments in unconsolidated entities	173,601	168,344	161,427
Other noncurrent assets, net	255,582	237,359	214,814
Total assets	8,761,744	8,772,906	8,750,014
Liabilities:
Contract liabilities	65,333
Contract with Customer, Liability, Current	65,333	64,417	65,959
Accrued expenses and other	105,291	99,024	98,769
Deferred tax liabilities, net	433,174	439,145	436,023
Other noncurrent liabilities	127,306	124,435	128,503
Total liabilities	4,556,229	4,570,396	4,572,629
Stockholders’ Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(111,413)	(119,687)	(130,154)
Accumulated earnings	714,423	735,974	721,316
Total EchoStar Corporation stockholders’ equity	4,205,515	4,202,510	4,177,385	$ 3,845,710	$ 4,021,313	$ 4,006,805
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	8,761,744	8,772,906	8,750,014
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01
Stockholders’ Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	8,657	10,467
Accumulated earnings	(8,657)	(10,467)
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Assets:
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net	7,122	(7,103)
Other current assets	(533)	533
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(6,337)	6,917
Other noncurrent assets, net	(25,895)	22,545
Total assets	(25,643)	22,892
Liabilities:
Contract liabilities	1,134	(1,542)
Accrued expenses and other	(255)	255
Deferred tax liabilities, net		3,122
Other noncurrent liabilities	3,185	(4,068)
Total liabilities	561	(2,233)
Stockholders’ Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0
Accumulated earnings	(26,204)	25,125
Total EchoStar Corporation stockholders’ equity	(26,204)	25,125
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	(25,643)	22,892
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Assets:
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net			196,840
Other current assets			91,671
Investments in unconsolidated entities			161,427
Other noncurrent assets, net			214,814
Total assets			8,750,014
Liabilities:
Contract liabilities			65,959
Accrued expenses and other			98,769
Deferred tax liabilities, net			436,023
Other noncurrent liabilities			128,503
Total liabilities			4,572,629
Stockholders’ Equity:
Total EchoStar Corporation stockholders’ equity			4,177,385
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity			8,750,014
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Assets:
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net	173,304
Other current assets	12,630
Investments in unconsolidated entities	167,264
Other noncurrent assets, net	229,687
Total assets	8,736,101
Liabilities:
Contract liabilities	66,467
Accrued expenses and other	105,036
Other noncurrent liabilities	130,491
Total liabilities	4,556,790
Stockholders’ Equity:
Total EchoStar Corporation stockholders’ equity	4,179,311
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 8,736,101
Calculated Under Revenue Guidance In Effect Before Topic 606 And Accounting Standards Update 2016-01
Stockholders’ Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(130,154)
Accumulated earnings			$ 721,316
Accumulated Earnings | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets		(10,500)
Accumulated Earnings | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets		$ 25,100