Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Net income (loss)	$ 460,286	$ 58,762	$ 845,607	$ 448,837
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	21,569	18,646	39,330	33,006
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	438,717	40,116	806,277	415,831
Interest on dilutive Convertible Notes, net of tax				30,125
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network - Diluted	$ 438,717	$ 40,116	$ 806,277	$ 445,956
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	467,425	466,019	467,036	465,717
Dilutive impact of Convertible Notes (in shares)	58,192		58,192	53,152
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)	232	916	379	992
Diluted (in shares)	525,849	466,935	525,607	519,861
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.94	$ 0.09	$ 1.73	$ 0.89
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.83	$ 0.09	$ 1.53	$ 0.86
2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.375%	2.375%	2.375%	2.375%	2.375%
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.375%		3.375%