Property and Equipment - Schedule of Satellites (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
SPACEWAY 3
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	12 years
EchoStar XVII
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	15 years
EchoStar XIX
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	15 years
EchoStar VII
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	3 years
EchoStar IX
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	12 years
EchoStar X
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	7 years
EchoStar XI
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	9 years
EchoStar XII
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	2 years
EchoStar XIV
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	11 years
EchoStar XVI
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	15 years
EchoStar XXI
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	15 years
EchoStar XXIII
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	15 years
Eutelsat 65 West A
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	15 years
Telesat 19V satellite
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	15 years
Nimiq 5
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	15 years
QuetzSat-1
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	10 years
EchoStar 105/SES-11
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable life	15 years