The number of shares into which fully or partially vested stock options outstanding as of the balance sheet date can be currently converted under the option plan.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted-average price as of the balance sheet date at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance on vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable under the stock option plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average remaining contractual term for vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable or convertible, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average remaining contractual term for option awards outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (e)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The floor of a customized range of exercise prices for purposes of disclosing shares potentially issuable under outstanding stock option awards on all stock option plans and other required information pertaining to awards in the customized range.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeLowerRangeLimit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The ceiling of a customized range of exercise prices for purposes of disclosing shares potentially issuable under outstanding stock option awards on all stock option plans and other required information pertaining to awards in the customized range.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeUpperRangeLimit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeAxis=ddbs_RangeOfExercisePricesFromDollars00.00To10.00Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeAxis=ddbs_RangeOfExercisePricesFromDollars00.00ToDollars50.00Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeAxis=ddbs_RangeOfExercisePricesFromDollars10.01To15.00Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeAxis=ddbs_RangeOfExercisePricesFromDollars15.01To20.00Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeAxis=ddbs_RangeOfExercisePricesFromDollars20.01To25.00Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeAxis=ddbs_RangeOfExercisePricesFromDollars25.01To30.00Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeAxis=ddbs_RangeOfExercisePricesFromDollars30.01To35.00Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeAxis=ddbs_RangeOfExercisePricesFromDollars35.01To40.00Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeAxis=ddbs_RangeOfExercisePricesFromDollars40.01To45.00Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeAxis=ddbs_RangeOfExercisePricesFromDollars45.01To50.00Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Stock-Based Compensation (Details 3) (Stock Options, DISH Network Awards, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	11,938,090	13,018,490	17,640,074	18,447,004
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 22.49	$ 18.99	$ 20.38	$ 17.76
Number of stock options exercisable	4,061,289	4,310,489	6,387,798
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 17.88	$ 17.92	$ 21.73
Range of Exercise Prices $00.00 - $10.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 10.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	1,514,885
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 9 months 14 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 6.33
Number of stock options exercisable	1,411,885
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 8 months 5 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 6.33
Range of Exercise Prices $10.01 - $15.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 10.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 15.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	138,286
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 5 months 26 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 12.16
Number of stock options exercisable	23,085
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 3 months 11 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 12.75
Range of Exercise Prices $15.01 - $20.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 15.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 20.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	3,860,300
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 1 month 13 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 17.37
Number of stock options exercisable	426,700
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 9 months
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 17.72
Range of Exercise Prices $20.01 - $25.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 20.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 25.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	1,560,312
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 22 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 21.47
Number of stock options exercisable	893,412
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 7 months 13 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 21.34
Range of Exercise Prices $25.01 - $30.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 25.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 30.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	2,238,007
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 1 month 2 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 27.80
Number of stock options exercisable	1,200,907
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 7 months 20 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 27.71
Range of Exercise Prices $30.01 - $35.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 30.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 35.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	437,800
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 11 months 12 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 32.04
Number of stock options exercisable	88,300
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 3 months 14 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 31.82
Range of Exercise Prices $35.01 - $40.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 35.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 40.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	2,159,500
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	9 years 11 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 36.64
Number of stock options exercisable	7,000
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	9 years 4 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 36.40
Range of Exercise Prices $40.01 - $45.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 40.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 45.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	10,000
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 6 months
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 42.52
Number of stock options exercisable	10,000
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 6 months
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 42.52
Range of Exercise Prices $45.01 - $50.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 45.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 50.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	19,000
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	9 years 4 months 10 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 45.68
Range of Exercise Prices $00.00 - $50.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 50.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	11,938,090
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 7 months 24 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 22.49
Number of stock options exercisable	4,061,289
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 3 months 11 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 17.88