Segment Reporting - Transactions with Major Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue	$ 530,661	$ 532,953	$ 525,957	$ 501,792	$ 506,048	$ 481,233	$ 465,076	$ 433,151	$ 2,091,363	$ 1,885,508	$ 1,810,466
Corporate and Other
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue									16,777
Hughes segment
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue									1,716,169	1,476,131	1,389,152
Hughes segment | Operating segments
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue									1,716,528	1,477,918	1,392,361
EchoStar Satellite Services segment
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue									355,734	390,831	406,970
EchoStar Satellite Services segment | Operating segments
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue									358,058	392,244	407,660
DISH Network
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue									$ 379,165	$ 445,988	$ 472,282
DISH Network | Revenue
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Percentage of total revenue									18.10%	23.70%	26.10%
DISH Network | Corporate and Other
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue									$ 19,075	$ 18,522	$ 15,433
DISH Network | Hughes segment | Operating segments
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue									50,275	82,625	107,300
DISH Network | EchoStar Satellite Services segment | Operating segments
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue									309,815	344,841	349,549
All other
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Total revenue									$ 1,712,198	$ 1,439,520	$ 1,338,184
All other | Revenue
Sales to each customer and its percentage of total revenue
Percentage of total revenue									81.90%	76.30%	73.90%