Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Assets [Abstract] Assets Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Available For Sale Securities Current Marketable investment securities Available-for-sale Securities, Current, Total Accounts Receivable Related Parties Current Trade accounts receivable - DISH Network, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of zero Trade accounts receivable - other, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,038 and $5,605, respectively Trade accounts receivable - DISH Network, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of zero Inventory Inventory, Net, Total Deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Other current assets Assets, Current Total current assets Noncurrent Assets: Restricted cash and marketable investment securities Restricted Cash and Investments, Noncurrent, Total Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,679,624 and $1,609,077, respectively Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total FCC authorizations Intangible assets, net Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total Marketable and other investment securities Long-term Investments, Total Other noncurrent assets, net Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total Assets, Noncurrent Total noncurrent assets Assets Total assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) Current Liabilities: Accounts Payable Other Current Trade accounts payable - other Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accounts Payable Related Parties Current Trade accounts payable - DISH Network Accrued royalties Other Accrued Liabilities Current Accrued expenses and other Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current, Total Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Long-Term Obligations, Net of Current Portion: Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Total Deferred tax liabilities Other Liabilities Noncurrent Other long-term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Liabilities, Noncurrent Total long-term obligations, net of current portion Liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11) Stockholders' Equity (Deficit): Preferred Stock, $.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common stock Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Total Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Accumulated earnings (deficit) Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Treasury stock, at cost Treasury stock, at cost Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Total EchoStar stockholders' equity (deficit) Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Total stockholders' equity (deficit) Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable from Related Parties Current. Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable From Related Parties Current Allowance for doubtful accounts on trade accounts receivables-DISH Network Allowance for doubtful accounts on trade accounts receivables-other Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Accumulated depreciation for property and equipment Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Ending Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Beginning Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Preferred Stock, par value Preferred Stock shares, authorized Preferred Stock shares, issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued, Total Preferred Stock shares, outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common stock shares, par value Common stock shares, authorized Common stock shares, issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock shares, outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Income Statement [Abstract] Revenue: Equipment Revenue - DISH Network. Equipment Revenue, Related Party Equipment Revenue - DISH Network Sakes Revenue Goods Net Equipment revenue - other Equipment revenue - DISH Network Transitional services and other revenue - DISH Network. Services And Other Revenue, Related Party Services and other revenue - DISH Network Services and other revenue - DISH Network Services and other revenue - other Services and other revenue - DISH Network Sales Revenue, Net Total revenue Total revenue Costs and Expenses: Cost of sales - equipment Cost of sales - equipment Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation shown below - Note 6) Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation shown below - Note 6) Research and development expenses Research and development expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses General and administrative expenses paid to a related party. General and Administrative Expense, Related Party General and administrative expenses - DISH Network Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Depreciation and amortization (Note 6) Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total Depreciation and amortization Total costs and expenses Total costs and expenses Operating income (loss) Operating income (loss) Other Income (Expense) Interest income Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized Interest Expense, Debt, Total Unrealized and realized (gains) losses on marketable investment securities and other investments Unrealized and realized (gains) losses on marketable investment securities and other investments Unrealized and realized (gains) losses on marketable investment securities and other investments Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total Unrealized (gains) losses on investments accounted for at fair value, net Unrealized (gains) losses on investments accounted for at fair value, net Unrealized gains (losses) on investments accounted for at fair value, net Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total Other, net Other, net Other, net Other, net Total other income (expense) Total other income (expense) Total other income (expense) Total other income (expense) The portion of earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes. Income (loss) before income tax Income (loss) before income taxes Income (loss) before income taxes Income tax (provision) benefit, net Income tax (provision) benefit, net Income tax (provision) benefit, net Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Net income -(loss) attributable to EchoStar common shareholders Net income (loss) attributable to EchoStar common shareholders Comprehensive Income (Loss): Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, before Tax Foreign currency translation adjustments Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, before Tax, Total Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gain (Loss), Net Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss) Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss) Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gain (Loss), Net, Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax Deferred income tax (expense) benefit Deferred income tax (expense) benefit Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Total Comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive income (loss) Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Comprehensive income -(loss) attributable to EchoStar common shareholders Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to EchoStar common shareholders Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock: Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock: Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to EchoStar common shareholders Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to EchoStar common shareholders Basic net income (loss) per share Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to EchoStar common shareholders Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to EchoStar common shareholders Diluted net income (loss) per share Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash Flows From Operating Activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities: Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Equity in losses (earnings) of affiliates Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments, Total Non-cash, stock-based compensation Share-based Compensation, Total Deferred tax expense (benefit) Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net Other, net Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Change in noncurrent assets Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital, Total Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash flows from operating activities Cash Flows From Investing Activities: Purchases of marketable investment securities Purchases of marketable investment securities Payments to Acquire Marketable Securities, Total Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities, Total Purchases of property and equipment Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Launch contract sold to related parties Launch Contract Soldto Related Parties Capital transaction with DISH Network in connection with the launch service (Note 13) Change In Restricted Cash And Marketable Investment Securities Change In Restricted Cash And Marketable Investment Securities Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities Purchase of strategic investments included in marketable and other investment securities Purchase of strategic investments included in marketable and other investment securities Payments to Acquire Investments, Total Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities Other, net Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash flows from investing activities Cash Flows From Financing Activities: Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations Repurchase of Class A common stock Class A common stock repurchases Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and Class A common stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Net Proceeds From Class Common Stock Options Exercised And Class Common Stock Issued Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash flows from financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: Interest Paid Cash paid for interest Proceeds from Interest Received Cash received for interest Income Taxes Paid Cash paid for income taxes EmployeeBenefitsPaidInCommonStock Employee Benefits Paid In Common Stock Employee benefits paid in Class A common stock Capital Lease Obligations Incurred Satellites and other assets financed under capital lease obligations Reduction of capital lease obligations and associated asset value. ReductionOfCapital Lease Obligations And Associated Asset Value Reduction of capital lease obligations and associated asset value for AMC-16 (Note 6) Organization and Business Activities [Abstract] Organization and Business Activities [Abstract] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Parent Company [Member] Organization and Business Activities General Policies [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share Marketable Securities, Restricted [Abstract] Marketable Investment Securities, Restricted Cash and Other Investment Securities Marketable Investment Securities Restricted Cash And Other Investment Securities Text Block Marketable Investment Securities Restricted Cash And Other Investment Securities Inventory, Net [Abstract] Inventory Disclosure Text Block Inventory Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] Property and Equipment Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Abstract] Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Intangible Assets Long-term Debt, Unclassified [Abstract] Long-Term Debt Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) Share-based Compensation [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Segment Reporting, Measurement Disclosures [Abstract] Segment Reporting Related Party Transaction, Due from (to) Related Party [Abstract] dup_1_Related Party Transaction, Due from (to) Related Party, Noncurrent, Total Related Party Transactions Class A Common Stock [Member] Class B Common Stock [Member] Common Class C [Member] Class C Common Stock [Member] Common Class D [Member] Class D Common Stock [Member]