Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivative Financial Instruments
Derivative financial instruments	$ 292,507us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsCurrent	383,460us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsCurrent
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Pre-tax impairment charges	$ 437,575us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Minimum
Marketable Investment Securities
Length of time an investment has been in a continuous loss position in which the decline in value would be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine if the decline in value is other-than-temporary		6 months
Length of time an investment has been in a continuous loss position in which the decline in value is considered other-than-temporary		9 months
Property and Equipment
Useful life of property and equipment		1 year
Business Combinations
Acquired intangible assets, average finite useful life		2 years
Revenue Recognition
Period of deferral for the portion of subscriber fees that are deferred		4 months
Maximum
Marketable Investment Securities
Length of time an investment has been in a continuous loss position in which the decline in value is considered as temporary		6 months
Length of time an investment has been in a continuous loss position in which the decline in value would be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine if the decline in value is other-than-temporary		9 months
Property and Equipment
Useful life of property and equipment		40 years
Business Combinations
Acquired intangible assets, average finite useful life		10 years
Revenue Recognition
Period of deferral for the portion of subscriber fees that are deferred		5 years
Northstar Manager LLC
Variable Interest Entity
Number of years after wireless spectrum license is granted until put right vests		5 years
SNR Wireless Management LLC
Variable Interest Entity
Number of years after wireless spectrum license is granted until put right vests		5 years
Sling TV Holding L L C \| EchoStar
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Ownership percentage owned by noncontrolling owners		10.00%
Number of days following the fifth anniversary of the Exchange Agreement to redeem		60 days

Name:	dish_BusinessCombinationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Deferred subscriber fees deferral period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_DeferredSubscriberFeesDeferralPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dish_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Length of time investment been in continuous loss position considered temporary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_LengthOfTimeInvestmentBeenInContinuousLossPositionConsideredTemporary
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Length of time investment been in continuous loss position evaluated on case by case basis.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_LengthOfTimeInvestmentBeenInContinuousLossPositionEvaluatedOnCaseByCaseBasis
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Length of time investment been in continuous loss position to be considered as other than temporary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_LengthOfTimeInvestmentBeenInContinuousLossPositionToBeConsideredAsOtherThanTemporary
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of days following the fifth anniversary of the Exchange Agreement for which the noncontrolling owners can redeem their noncontrolling interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_NoncontrollingInterestPeriodToRedeemFollowingFifthAnniversaryByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of years after the grant of a wireless spectrum license until the right to put vests.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_NumberOfYearsAfterGrantOfWirelessSpectrumLicenseBeforePutRightVests
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, expected to be settled within one year or normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13495-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Current Assets

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509628

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dish_NorthstarManagerLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dish_SlingTVHoldingLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dish_SnrWirelessManagementLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: