Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Property and equipment
Amount of interest capitalized	$ 94,414	$ 69,153
Total property and equipment	6,467,516		7,323,286
Accumulated depreciation	(2,720,775)		(3,225,575)
Property and equipment, net	3,746,741		4,097,711
MSS business
Property and equipment
Property and equipment, net		53,000
Equipment leased to customers
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	3,642,941		3,596,310
Equipment leased to customers | Minimum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life	2 years
Equipment leased to customers | Maximum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life	5 years
EchoStar I
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment			201,607
Depreciable Life	12 years
EchoStar VII
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment			177,000
Depreciable Life	15 years
EchoStar X
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment			177,192
Depreciable Life	15 years
EchoStar XI
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment			200,198
Depreciable Life	15 years
EchoStar XIV
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment			316,541
Depreciable Life	15 years
EchoStar XV
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	277,658		277,658
Depreciable Life	15 years
D1
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	150,000		150,000
Depreciable Life	15 years
T1
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	401,721		401,721
Depreciable Life	15 years
Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	499,819		499,819
Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements | Minimum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life	10 years
Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements | Maximum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life	15 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	763,590		720,570
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other | Minimum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life	1 year
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other | Maximum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life	10 years
Buildings and improvements
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	84,528		83,531
Buildings and improvements | Minimum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life	1 year
Buildings and improvements | Maximum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life	40 years
Land
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	5,505		5,692
Construction in progress
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	641,754		515,447
Construction in progress | Wireless ground equipment and build-out, including capitalized interest
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	387,568		289,732
Construction in progress | T2 satellite
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	40,000		40,000
Construction in progress | Other
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	23,277		41,876
Construction in progress | Pay-TV Satellites, including capitalized interest
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 190,909		$ 143,839