Stock-Based Compensation (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 70.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	10,214,344
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 11 months 16 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 25.29
Number of stock options exercisable	3,107,544
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 4 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 19.81
Stock Options | DISH Network Awards
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	10,214,344	11,938,090	13,018,490	17,640,074
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 25.29	$ 22.49	$ 18.99	$ 20.38
Number of stock options exercisable	3,107,544	4,061,289	4,310,489
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 19.81	$ 17.88	$ 17.92
Range of Exercise Prices $00.00 - $10.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 10.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	961,494
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 10 months 2 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 6.33
Number of stock options exercisable	961,494
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 10 months 2 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 6.33
Range Of Exercise Prices $10.01 - $20.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 10.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 20.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	3,803,409
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 26 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 17.36
Number of stock options exercisable	444,009
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 7 months 13 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 17.53
Range of Exercise Prices $20.01 - $30.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 20.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 30.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	2,711,366
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 4 months 24 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 25.65
Number of stock options exercisable	1,414,466
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 11 months 23 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 25.63
Range of Exercise Prices $30.01 - $40.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 30.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 40.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	2,047,125
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 8 months 5 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 35.88
Number of stock options exercisable	228,825
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 2 months 23 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 35.20
Range of Exercise Prices $40.01 - $50.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 40.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 50.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	25,200
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 5 months 5 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 44.43
Number of stock options exercisable	10,000
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 6 months
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 42.52
Range of Exercise Prices $50.01 - $60.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 50.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 60.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	100,000
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 9 months
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 57.92
Number of stock options exercisable	25,000
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 7 months 6 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 57.92
Range of Exercise Prices $60.01 - $70.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 60.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 70.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	565,750
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years 10 months 10 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 64.17
Number of stock options exercisable	23,750
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 9 months 18 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 63.79