Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 17, 2017	Aug. 08, 2016
Net income (loss)	$ 413,547	$ 377,157	$ 340,566	$ 361,299	$ 357,286	$ 452,598	$ 460,286	$ 385,321	$ 1,492,569	$ 1,655,491	$ 2,165,407
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax									93,057	80,400	66,718
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 389,404	$ 353,304	$ 317,043	$ 339,761	$ 337,080	$ 431,734	$ 438,717	$ 367,560	1,399,512	1,575,091	2,098,689
Interest on dilutive Convertible Notes, net of tax											30,028
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network - Diluted									$ 1,399,512	$ 1,575,091	$ 2,128,717
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)									479,657	467,350	466,021
Dilutive impact of Convertible Notes (in shares)									58,192	58,192	55,692
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)									115	290	883
Diluted (in shares)									537,964	525,832	522,596
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77	$ 0.74	$ 0.68	$ 0.73	$ 0.72	$ 0.92	$ 0.94	$ 0.79	$ 2.92	$ 3.37	$ 4.50
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.69	$ 0.66	$ 0.60	$ 0.65	$ 0.64	$ 0.82	$ 0.83	$ 0.70	$ 2.60	$ 3.00	$ 4.07
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.75%								7.75%
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Interest rate (as a percent)													3.375%
2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.375%								2.375%		2.375%	2.375%