Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to EchoStar Corporation common stock	$ 14,202	$ (21,551)
Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	95,386	95,888
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)	291	0
Diluted (in shares)	95,677	95,888
Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ (0.22)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ (0.22)