Stock-Based Compensation (Details 9) (USD $)	0 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2012 Class A common stock DISH Network Awards	Dec. 02, 2011 Class A common stock DISH Network Awards	Dec. 28, 2012 Class B common stock DISH Network Awards	Dec. 02, 2011 Class B common stock DISH Network Awards	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2012 Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2012 Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Stock Options Maximum	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Stock Options Minimum
Black-Scholes option valuation model, assumptions
Risk-free interest rate, low end of range (as a percent)							0.91%	0.41%
Risk-free interest rate, high end of range (as a percent)							1.93%	1.29%
Risk-free interest rate (as a percent)						0.78%
Volatility factor, low end of range (as a percent)							32.37%	33.15%
Volatility factor, high end of range (as a percent)							39.87%	39.34%
Volatility factor (as a percent)						38.90%
Expected term of options						5 years 9 months 18 days			10 years	5 years 10 months 24 days	5 years 8 months 12 days	3 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted-average fair value of options granted (in dollars per share)						$ 11.44			$ 16.85	$ 12.69	$ 14.49	$ 6.72
Granted (in shares)					0
Dividend in cash per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 2.00	$ 1.00	$ 2.00
Dividend yield (as a percent)					0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%