Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Summary of Results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	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
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
Operating income		(19,567)	70,035	74,765	58,010	42,352	56,414	45,890	51,651	183,243	196,307	296,163
Net income (loss)		(111,648)	16,502	77,684	(21,171)	313,814	35,201	7,122	37,352	(38,633)	393,489	180,692
Net income (loss) attributable to EchoStar common stock		$ (112,198)	$ 16,052	$ 77,222	$ (21,551)	$ 313,237	$ 34,669	$ 6,940	$ 38,924	$ (40,475)	$ 393,770	$ 181,673
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)		$ (1.17)	$ 0.17	$ 0.80	$ (0.22)	$ 3.29	$ 0.36	$ 0.07	$ 0.41	$ (0.42)	$ 4.13	$ 1.94
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)		$ (1.17)	$ 0.17	$ 0.80	$ (0.22)	$ 3.23	$ 0.36	$ 0.07	$ 0.41	$ (0.42)	$ 4.07	$ 1.92
Benefit as result of change in enacted tax rate						$ 304,000				$ (1,000)	$ (304,000)
Gains (losses) related to trading securities	$ 23,000										43,000	$ 1,000
Impairment of long-lived assets	$ 11,000									$ 65,220	$ 10,762	$ 0
BRAZIL
Impairment of long-lived assets		$ 65,000