Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		$ 5,372,621	$ 5,688,678
Accumulated depreciation		(3,477,283)	(3,760,498)
Property and equipment, net		1,895,338	1,928,180
Equipment leased to customers
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		$ 1,912,655	2,016,965
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 XV
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		$ 277,658	277,658
Depreciable Life		15 years
EchoStar XVIII
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		$ 411,255	411,255
Depreciable Life		15 years
D1
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		$ 55,000	55,000
T1
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	[1]	$ 66,071	100,000
Depreciable Life		14 years 3 months
Satellites acquired under finance lease agreements
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	[2]	$ 223,423	499,819
Satellites acquired under finance lease agreements | Minimum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life	[2]	10 years
Satellites acquired under finance lease agreements | Maximum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life	[2]	15 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		$ 1,939,067	1,923,585
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other | Minimum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life		2 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other | Maximum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life		10 years
Buildings and improvements
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		$ 287,194	290,650
Buildings and improvements | Minimum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life		4 years
Buildings and improvements | Maximum
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life		40 years
Land
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		$ 13,186	13,186
Construction in progress
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		187,112	100,560
Construction in progress | Software
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		36,907	34,533
Construction in progress | Wireless
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		130,710	53,466
Construction in progress | Other
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment		$ 19,495	$ 12,561

[1] Depreciable

[2] The Ciel II satellite was previously classified as a finance lease, however, as a result of an amendment, which was effective during the first quarter 2019, Ciel II is now accounted for as an operating lease.