Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (Imported) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Total revenue	$ 3,583,266us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 3,585,372us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 3,598,565us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 3,510,210us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 3,465,572us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 3,448,860us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 3,444,922us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 3,336,258us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 14,277,413us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 13,695,612us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 13,151,600us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Operating income (loss)	602,406us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	420,459us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	497,196us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	508,270us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	518,178us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	494,094us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	601,161us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	514,113us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	2,028,331us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	2,127,546us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	1,392,935us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS	$ 289,206	$ 155,041	$ 190,486	$ 190,152	$ 198,382	$ 186,527	$ 233,882	$ 206,231	$ 824,885	$ 825,022	$ 484,266

Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 260

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1377-109256

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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