Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule Of Cumulative Effects Change (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net	$ 186,962	$ 189,737	$ 196,840
Other current assets	15,889	92,204	91,671
Investments in unconsolidated entities	156,022	168,344	161,427
Other noncurrent assets, net	258,237	237,359	214,814
Total assets	8,791,985	8,772,906	8,750,014
Liabilities:
Contract liabilities	72,776	64,417	65,959
Accrued expenses and other	68,195	82,902	82,647
Deferred tax liabilities, net	456,401	439,145	436,023
Other noncurrent liabilities	124,252	124,435	128,503
Total liabilities	4,547,733	4,570,396	4,572,629
Stockholders’ Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(154,011)	(119,687)	(130,154)
Accumulated earnings	792,278	735,974	721,316
Total EchoStar Corporation stockholders’ equity	4,244,252	4,202,510	4,177,385	$ 3,856,724	$ 4,021,313	$ 4,006,805
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	8,791,985	8,772,906	8,750,014
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01
Stockholders’ Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	40,190	10,467
Accumulated earnings	(40,190)	(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	7,129	(7,103)
Other current assets	(533)	533
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(6,240)	6,917
Other noncurrent assets, net	(29,878)	22,545
Total assets	(29,522)	22,892
Liabilities:
Contract liabilities	978	(1,542)
Accrued expenses and other	(255)	255
Deferred tax liabilities, net		3,122
Other noncurrent liabilities	2,414	(4,068)
Total liabilities	(1,182)	(2,233)
Stockholders’ Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0
Accumulated earnings	(28,340)	25,125
Total EchoStar Corporation stockholders’ equity	(28,340)	25,125
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	(29,522)	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			82,647
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	194,091
Other current assets	15,356
Investments in unconsolidated entities	149,782
Other noncurrent assets, net	228,359
Total assets	8,762,463
Liabilities:
Contract liabilities	73,754
Accrued expenses and other	67,940
Other noncurrent liabilities	126,666
Total liabilities	4,546,551
Stockholders’ Equity:
Total EchoStar Corporation stockholders’ equity	4,215,912
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 8,762,463
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