Long-Term Debt - Fair Value of Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 18,146,809	$ 17,147,844
Fair Value	19,967,260	18,451,764
Unamortized debt discount on the Convertible Notes	(968,738)	(752,386)
Unamortized deferred financing costs and debt	(51,830)	(52,704)
Capital Lease obligations	121,787	140,885
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations (including current portion)	17,248,028	16,483,639
4 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	900,000	900,000
Fair Value	$ 902,016	$ 913,887
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.625%	4.625%
4 1/4% Senior Notes due 2018
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 1,200,000	$ 1,200,000
Fair Value	$ 1,215,768	$ 1,228,464
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.25%	4.25%
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 1,400,000	$ 1,400,000
Fair Value	$ 1,542,282	$ 1,559,698
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.875%	7.875%
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,100,000
Fair Value	$ 1,152,580	$ 1,141,866
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%	5.125%
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 2,223,020	$ 2,178,880
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.75%	6.75%
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 2,155,060	$ 2,114,780
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%	5.875%
5% Senior Notes due 2023
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 1,500,000	$ 1,500,000
Fair Value	$ 1,543,725	$ 1,500,315
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 2,135,280	$ 2,064,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%	5.875%
2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 1,000,000
Fair Value	$ 1,052,950
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.375%	2.375%
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 2,369,240	$ 2,270,900
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.75%	7.75%
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 3,000,000	$ 3,000,000
Fair Value	$ 3,628,530	$ 3,431,130
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.375%	3.375%
Other notes payable
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 46,809	$ 47,844
Fair Value	$ 46,809	$ 47,844

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13,16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of unamortized debt discount (premium) and debt issuance costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28555-108399

+ Details

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

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_SeniorNotes4.625PercentDue2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_SeniorNotes4.25PercentDue2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_SeniorNotes7.875PercentDue2019Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_SeniorNotes5.125PercentDue2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_SeniorNotes6.750PercentDue2021Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_SeniorNotes5.875PercentDue2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_SeniorNotes5PercentDue2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_SeniorNotes5.875PercentDue2024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_ConvertibleNotes2.38Due2024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_SeniorNotes7.75Due2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_ConvertibleNotes3.375PercentDue2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dish_OtherNotesPayableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: