CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Class A and B Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)	Noncontrolling Interest	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 5,230	$ 4,947,007	$ (18)	$ 6,612,302	$ (449)	$ 552,075	$ 11,564,072
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards		395					395
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	3	5,127					5,130
Non-cash, stock-based compensation		16,418					16,418
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities, net			(208)				(208)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to other comprehensive income (loss)			49				49
Foreign currency translation			375				375
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					263	25,912	263
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network				73,099			73,099
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	5,233	4,968,947	198	6,685,401	(186)	577,987	11,659,593
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	5,230	4,947,007	(18)	6,612,302	(449)	552,075	11,564,072
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to other comprehensive income (loss)							243
Foreign currency translation							(1,735)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network							1,030,041
Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	5,259	5,045,237	(1,583)	7,642,343	257	633,949	12,691,513
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	5,233	4,968,947	198	6,685,401	(186)	577,987	11,659,593
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards	3	(663)					(660)
Employee benefits	8	28,293					28,301
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	2	4,209					4,211
Non-cash, stock-based compensation		18,393					18,393
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities, net			113				113
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to other comprehensive income (loss)			546				546
Foreign currency translation			(3,521)				(3,521)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					235	27,828	235
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network				452,343			452,343
Other					(17)		(17)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	5,246	5,019,179	(2,664)	7,137,744	32	605,815	12,159,537
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards	12	8,353					8,365
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	1	4,570					4,571
Non-cash, stock-based compensation		13,135					13,135
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities, net			22				22
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to other comprehensive income (loss)			(352)				(352)
Foreign currency translation			1,411				1,411
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					225	28,134	225
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network				504,599			504,599
Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	5,259	5,045,237	(1,583)	7,642,343	257	633,949	12,691,513
Issuance of Class A common stock:
ASU 2014-09 cumulative catch-up adjustment							8,374,975
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	5,261	5,400,774	(855)	8,374,975	490	350,648	13,780,645
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards	1	2,046					2,047
Employee benefits	9	30,294					30,303
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	2	4,341					4,343
Non-cash, stock-based compensation		19,375					19,375
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities, net			(5)				(5)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to other comprehensive income (loss)			(498)				(498)
Foreign currency translation			1,842				1,842
Initial equity component of our 0% convertibles due 2025, net of deferred taxes of $99,823 | ASU 2020-06							(1,051,000)
Convertible debt reclassed per ASU 2020-06, net of deferred taxes of $245,778 (Note 2) | ASU 2020-06		(805,566)					(805,566)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					210	11,129	210
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network				630,224			630,224
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	5,273	4,651,264	484	9,005,199	700	361,777	13,662,920
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	5,261	5,400,774	(855)	8,374,975	490	350,648	13,780,645
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to other comprehensive income (loss)							(721)
Foreign currency translation							2,894
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network							1,858,313
Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	5,287	4,715,015	1,204	10,233,288	1,058	382,301	14,955,852
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	5,273	4,651,264	484	9,005,199	700	361,777	13,662,920
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards	4	14,425					14,429
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	1	4,273					4,274
Non-cash, stock-based compensation		546					546
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities, net			(17)				(17)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to other comprehensive income (loss)			(83)				(83)
Foreign currency translation			378				378
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					198	10,206	198
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network				671,047			671,047
Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	5,278	4,670,508	762	9,676,246	898	371,983	14,353,692
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards	8	23,115					23,123
Employee benefits		18					18
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	1	4,631					4,632
Non-cash, stock-based compensation		16,743					16,743
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities, net			(92)				(92)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to other comprehensive income (loss)			(140)				(140)
Foreign currency translation			674				674
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					160	10,318	160
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network				557,042			557,042
Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 5,287	$ 4,715,015	$ 1,204	$ 10,233,288	$ 1,058	$ 382,301	14,955,852
Issuance of Class A common stock:
ASU 2014-09 cumulative catch-up adjustment							$ 10,233,288