Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitment and Contingencies
Total	$ 24,375,256us-gaap_ContractualObligation
2015	3,635,711
2016	3,027,666
2017	2,164,008
2018	2,347,403
2019	2,456,648
Thereafter	10,743,820
Long-term debt obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total	14,264,702
2015	651,017
2016	1,501,079
2017	901,097
2018	1,201,163
2019	1,401,233
Thereafter	8,609,113
Capital lease obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total	194,669
2015	28,133
2016	30,893
2017	32,993
2018	36,175
2019	19,503
Thereafter	46,972
Interest expense on long-term debt and capital lease obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total	5,036,836
2015	850,579
2016	770,957
2017	714,722
2018	644,542
2019	616,490
Thereafter	1,439,546
Satellite-related obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total	2,325,026
2015	414,047
2016	362,527
2017	336,576
2018	327,247
2019	301,106
Thereafter	583,523
Operating lease obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total	164,843
2015	44,091
2016	38,996
2017	20,613
2018	11,667
2019	6,702
Thereafter	42,774
Purchase obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total	2,389,180
2015	1,647,844
2016	323,214
2017	158,007
2018	126,609
2019	111,614
Thereafter	$ 21,892

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation, including but not limited to, long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations, and other commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationDueAfterFifthYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationDueInFifthYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationDueInFourthYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationDueInNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationDueInSecondYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationDueInThirdYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	ddbs_ContractualObligationsTypeAxis=ddbs_OperatingLeaseObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	ddbs_ContractualObligationsTypeAxis=ddbs_SatelliteRelatedObligationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	ddbs_ContractualObligationsTypeAxis=us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	ddbs_ContractualObligationsTypeAxis=us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
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