Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011 Y	Dec. 31, 2010
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 6,032,517	$ 5,916,869
Accumulated depreciation	(2,862,626)	(2,684,521)
Property and equipment, net	3,169,891	3,232,348
Depreciable Life, high end of range (in years)	40
Depreciable Life, low end of range (in years)	1
Equipment leased to customers
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	3,496,154	3,495,360
Depreciable Life, high end of range (in years)	5
Depreciable Life, low end of range (in years)	2
EchoStar I
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	201,607	201,607
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	12Y
EchoStar VII
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	177,000	177,000
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	12Y
EchoStar X
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	177,192	177,192
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	12Y
EchoStar XI
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	200,198	200,198
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	12Y
EchoStar XIV
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	316,541	316,518
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	15Y
EchoStar XV
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	277,658	277,533
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	15Y
Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	499,819	499,819
Depreciable Life, high end of range (in years)	15
Depreciable Life, low end of range (in years)	10
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	522,330	480,379
Depreciable Life, high end of range (in years)	10
Depreciable Life, low end of range (in years)	1
Buildings and improvements
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	99,346	70,471
Depreciable Life, high end of range (in years)	40
Depreciable Life, low end of range (in years)	1
Land
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	15,893	3,948
Construction in progress
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	48,779	16,844
Construction in progress \| Software related projects
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	21,519	3,469
Construction in progress \| Other
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 27,260	$ 13,375

The cumulative amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization (related to property, plant and equipment, but not including land) that has been recognized in the income statement.

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Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. This can include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

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- Definition

Tangible assets that are held by an entity for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and that are expected to provide economic benefit for more than one year; net of accumulated depreciation. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

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