Property and Equipment (Details 4) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	11 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 solar_array_circuit	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) satellite	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) satellite mi	Nov. 30, 2017 solar_array_circuit	Sep. 30, 2015
Satellites
Property and equipment
Number of satellites utilized in geostationary orbit approximately 22,300 miles above the equator				18
Length of satellites utilized in geosynchronous orbit above the equator (in miles) | mi				22,300
Satellites, owned
Property and equipment
Number of satellites utilized in geostationary orbit approximately 22,300 miles above the equator				13
Satellites, leased
Property and equipment
Number of satellites utilized under capital lease			5	5
EchoStar 105/SES-11 [Member]
Property and equipment
Lessee, Finance Lease, Term of Contract	10 years
EchoStar X [Member]
Property and equipment
Number Of Solar Array Circuits Affected | solar_array_circuit	1				7
Number Of Functional Solar Array Circuits | solar_array_circuit	16
Revenue, Net, Reduction In Period | $			$ (1.1)	$ (3.5)
Telesat 19V satellite [Member]
Property and equipment
Lessee, Finance Lease, Term of Contract						15 years
Other Current Assets [Member] | EchoStar 105/SES-11 [Member]
Property and equipment
Other Significant Noncash Transaction, Value of Consideration Received | $		$ 77.5