Represents information pertaining to the related party transactions agreement term of renewal option exercised.

No definition available.

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionAgreementRenewalOptionTermExercised
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the related party transactions automatic renewal period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementAutomaticRenewalPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to required notice period for termination of agreement from related party under related party transactions agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementMinimumTerminationNoticeRequiredFromRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the related party transactions agreement term.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementTerm
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the option to extend agreement term of the related party agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementTermExtendOption
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to required notice period for termination of agreement by the reporting entity under the related party transactions agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsAgreementTerminationNoticeRequiredByReportingEntity
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the required notice period to exercise option to extend agreement under the related party transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_RelatedPartyTransactionsRequiredNoticePeriodToExerciseOptionToExtendAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Costs incurred and are directly related to generating revenues in fulfilling customer subscriptions.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 2

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(d))

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSoldSubscription
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ 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 210.5-03.4)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=ddbs_EchoStarMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Related Party Transactions (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 23, 2010	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transactions
General and administrative expenses		$ 762,146us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	$ 687,122us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	$ 666,217us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Subscriber-related expenses		8,066,642us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSoldSubscription	7,677,111us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSoldSubscription	7,246,104us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSoldSubscription
EchoStar
Related Party Transactions
General and administrative expenses		101,000	69,000	50,000
EchoStar \| Product Support Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity		60 days
EchoStar \| Inverness Lease Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Required notice period for termination of agreement		6 months
EchoStar \| DISH Online.com Services Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Term of renewal option exercised		1 year
Agreement term		2 years
EchoStar \| DISH Remote Access Services Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity		120 days
Agreement term	5 years
Automatic renewal period		1 year
Subscriber-related expenses		3,000	2,000	2,000
EchoStar \| Sling Service Services Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity		120 days
Agreement term	5 years
Automatic renewal period		1 year
Subscriber-related expenses		$ 4,000	$ 3,000	$ 2,000
EchoStar \| Application Development Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Required notice period for termination of agreement		90 days
Automatic renewal period		1 year
EchoStar \| XiP Encryption Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity		30 days
Required notice period for termination of agreement		180 days
Agreement term extend option		1 year
Notice period required to extend the agreement term		180 days