Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of lease income from operating, direct financing, and sales-type leases. Includes, but is not limited to, variable lease payments, interest income, profit (loss) recognized at commencement, and lease payments paid and payable to lessor.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888428&loc=SL77919372-209981

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130543-203045

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130539-203045

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130545-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8933-108599

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=hssc_RevenuefromContractwithCustomersEquipmentNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=hssc_RevenuefromContractswithCustomersServicesNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=hssc_RevenuefromContractwithCustomersDesignDevelopmentandConstructionServicesNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=hssc_NorthAmericaOtherThanUSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=hssc_AllOtherGeographicSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hssc_HughesBusinessSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hssc_EchoStarSatelliteServicesBusinessMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hssc_AllOtherSegmentsAndEliminationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Segment Reporting Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 401,422		$ 1,147,769
Lease Income	133,433		417,577
Revenues	534,855	$ 478,362	1,565,346	$ 1,370,745
Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	56,846		150,134
Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	327,952		950,959
Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	16,624		46,676
U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	434,444		1,285,015
Canada and Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	24,034		66,422
All Other Geographic Regions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	76,377		213,909
Hughes Business
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	444,762	379,702	1,271,527	1,070,715
Hughes Business \| Operating segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	394,431		1,125,781
Lease Income	50,331		146,105
Revenues	444,762	380,061	1,271,886	1,072,143
Hughes Business \| Operating segments \| Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	56,846		150,134
Hughes Business \| Operating segments \| Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	320,961		928,971
Hughes Business \| Operating segments \| Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	16,624		46,676
Hughes Business \| Operating segments \| U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	355,263		1,023,276
Hughes Business \| Operating segments \| Canada and Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	18,197		48,911
Hughes Business \| Operating segments \| All Other Geographic Regions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	71,302		199,699
EchoStar Satellite Services Business [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	83,482	96,743	274,609	294,839
EchoStar Satellite Services Business [Member] \| Operating segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,669		20,962
Lease Income	77,338		255,223
Revenues	84,007	97,093	276,185	295,785
EchoStar Satellite Services Business [Member] \| Operating segments \| Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0		0
EchoStar Satellite Services Business [Member] \| Operating segments \| Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,669		20,962
EchoStar Satellite Services Business [Member] \| Operating segments \| Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0		0
EchoStar Satellite Services Business [Member] \| Operating segments \| U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	77,995		258,148
EchoStar Satellite Services Business [Member] \| Operating segments \| Canada and Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	5,837		17,511
EchoStar Satellite Services Business [Member] \| Operating segments \| All Other Geographic Regions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	175		526
Corporate and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	6,611	1,917	19,210	5,191
Corporate and Other \| Corporate and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	322		1,026
Lease Income	5,764		16,249
Revenues	6,086	$ 1,208	17,275	$ 2,817
Corporate and Other \| Corporate and Other \| Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0		0
Corporate and Other \| Corporate and Other \| Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	322		1,026
Corporate and Other \| Corporate and Other \| Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0		0
Corporate and Other \| Corporate and Other \| U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,186		3,591
Corporate and Other \| Corporate and Other \| Canada and Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0		0
Corporate and Other \| Corporate and Other \| All Other Geographic Regions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4,900		$ 13,684