Property and Equipment (Details 4) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	11 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 solar_array_circuit	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) satellite	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) satellite mi	Nov. 30, 2017 solar_array_circuit	Sep. 30, 2015
Satellites
Property and equipment
Number of satellites utilized in geostationary orbit approximately 22,300 miles above the equator				15
Satellites in Geosynchronous Orbit Length Above Equator | mi				22,300
Satellites, Owned [Member]
Property and equipment
Number of satellites utilized in geostationary orbit approximately 22,300 miles above the equator				10
Satellites, Leased [Member]
Property and equipment
Number of satellites utilized under capital lease			5	5
EchoStar 105/SES-11 [Member]
Property and equipment
Lessee, Finance Lease, Term of Contract	10 years
EchoStar X [Member]
Property and equipment
Number Of Solar Array Circuits Affected | solar_array_circuit	1				7
Number Of Functional Solar Array Circuits | solar_array_circuit	16
Revenue, Net, Reduction In Period | $			$ 1.1	$ 3.5
Telesat 19V satellite [Member]
Property and equipment
Lessee, Finance Lease, Term of Contract						15 years
Other Current Assets [Member] | EchoStar 105/SES-11 [Member]
Property and equipment
Other Significant Noncash Transaction, Value of Consideration Received | $		$ 77.5