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, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 21, 2020	Mar. 17, 2017	Aug. 08, 2016
Net income (loss)	$ 565,412	$ 567,520	$ 681,451	$ 641,563	$ 761,297	$ 532,959	$ 480,406	$ 99,274	$ 2,455,946	$ 1,873,936	$ 1,492,569
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax									45,304	111,263	93,057
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 552,329	$ 557,042	$ 671,047	$ 630,224	$ 732,632	$ 504,599	$ 452,343	$ 73,099	2,410,642	1,762,673	1,399,512
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network - Diluted									$ 2,410,642	$ 1,762,673	$ 1,399,512
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)									527,844	524,761	479,657
Dilutive impact of Convertible Notes (in shares)									107,016	59,526	58,192
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)									1,203	73	115
Diluted (in shares)									636,063	584,360	537,964
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 1.04	$ 1.05	$ 1.27	$ 1.20	$ 1.39	$ 0.96	$ 0.86	$ 0.14	$ 4.57	$ 3.36	$ 2.92
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.87	$ 0.88	$ 1.06	$ 0.99	$ 1.24	$ 0.86	$ 0.78	$ 0.13	$ 3.79	$ 3.02	$ 2.60
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%
0% Convertible Notes Due 2025
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Interest rate (as a percent)					0.00%					0.00%		0.00%
Convertible Common Stock [Member] | 0% Convertible Notes Due 2025
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Common stock, shares issued					48,800					48,800