Property and Equipment - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) solar_array_circuit	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) satellite solar_array_circuit mi	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Capital leases, accumulated depreciation	$ 394		$ 468	$ 394
Capitalized interest related to satellites, satellite payloads and related ground facilities under construction			18	52	$ 94
Satellites
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Amortization of satellites under capital lease agreements			$ 76	$ 66	$ 56
Number of satellites utilized in geostationary orbit approximately 22,300 miles above the equator | satellite			18
Length of satellites utilized in geosynchronous orbit above the equator (in miles) | mi			22,300
Satellites, Leased
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of satellites utilized under capital lease | satellite			5
Satellites, Owned
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of satellites utilized in geostationary orbit approximately 22,300 miles above the equator | satellite			13
EchoStar 105/SES-11
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Term of lease contract			10 years
EchoStar X
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Solar array circuits affected | solar_array_circuit	1		7
Functional solar array circuits | solar_array_circuit			16
Reduction in revenue in period			$ 4
Other Current Assets | EchoStar 105/SES-11
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Transfer of EchoStar 105/SES-11 payloads to SES in exchange for receivable		$ 77