No definition available.

Name:	ddbs_RecognizedNonCashStockBasedCompensationExpenseAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the share based payment award estimated remaining compensation cost.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEstimatedRemainingCompensationCost
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEstimatedRemainingCompensationCostAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award estimated remaining compensation cost after next fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEstimatedRemainingCompensationCostAfterCurrentFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award estimated remaining compensation cost in the current remaining fiscal period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEstimatedRemainingCompensationCostInCurrentFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award, percentage awards vested per year after first four years.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageAwardsVestedPerYearAfterFirstFourYears
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award, percentage awards vested per year during first four years.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageAwardsVestedPerYearDuringFirstFourYears
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award percentage of performance goals probable of achievement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfPerformanceGoalsProbableOfAchievement
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the share based payment award portion vested during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPortionMeetingVestingCondition
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentOutstandingAwardsPursuantToPerformanceBasedStockIncentivePlansAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTermsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 14
-Section F

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, 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 (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

+ 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)(2)(i)-(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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

- 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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=ddbs_LongTermPerformanceBasedPlansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=ddbs_LongTermIncentivePlan2005Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=ddbs_LongTermIncentivePlan2008Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=ddbs_LongTermIncentivePlan2013Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=ddbs_OtherEmployeePerformanceAwardsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentOriginalAwardIssuerAxis=ddbs_DishNetworkStockAwardsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ddbs_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentOriginalAwardIssuerAxis=ddbs_EchoStarStockAwardsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ddbs_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardHolderAxis=ddbs_HeldByEmployeesOfEntityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Stock-Based Compensation (Details 7) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2005	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Recognized non-cash stock-based compensation expense
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense recognized	$ 19,199	$ 34,024	$ 29,647
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Performance Based Stock Options (in shares)	6,807,169
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 31.17
Long-Term Performance Based Plans
Recognized non-cash stock-based compensation expense
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense recognized	$ 11,851	$ 26,456	14,901
LTIP 2005
2005 LTIP Terms
Awards vesting period				7 years
Percentage awards vesting per annum during first four years				10.00%
Percentage awards vesting per annum after first four years				20.00%
LTIP 2008
Share-based compensation additional disclosures
Portion vested (as a percent)					100.00%
Recognized non-cash stock-based compensation expense
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense recognized			$ 2,719
2013 LTIP
Share-based compensation additional disclosures
Portion vested (as a percent)	20.00%
Percentage of performance goals probable of achievement	30.00%	10.00%	20.00%
Recognized non-cash stock-based compensation expense
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense recognized	$ 10,157	$ 12,361	$ 8,137
Other Employee Performance Awards
Recognized non-cash stock-based compensation expense
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense recognized	1,694	$ 14,095	$ 4,045
DISH Network Awards \| 2013 LTIP
Estimated Remaining Non-Cash, Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Expense estimated to be recognized during 2015	7,112
Estimated contingent expense subsequent to 2015	39,218
Total estimated remaining expense over the term of plan	46,330
DISH Network Awards \| Other Employee Performance Awards
Estimated Remaining Non-Cash, Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Estimated contingent expense subsequent to 2015	36,087
Total estimated remaining expense over the term of plan	$ 36,087
Stock Options \| DISH Network Awards
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Performance Based Stock Options (in shares)	6,807,169	10,214,344	11,938,090			13,018,490
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 31.17	$ 25.29	$ 22.49			$ 18.99
Stock Options \| DISH Network Awards \| Long-Term Performance Based Plans
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Performance Based Stock Options (in shares)	3,904,500	5,926,500	6,468,500
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 28.03	$ 25.15	$ 24.92
Stock Options \| DISH Network Awards \| 2013 LTIP
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Performance Based Stock Options (in shares)	1,564,500
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 42.63
Stock Options \| DISH Network Awards \| Other Employee Performance Awards
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Performance Based Stock Options (in shares)	2,340,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 18.27
Stock Options \| EchoStar awards
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Performance Based Stock Options (in shares)	44,548
Restricted Stock Units \| DISH Network Awards
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Restricted Performance Units (in shares)	1,382,250	1,731,332	1,863,165			1,076,748
Restricted Stock Units \| DISH Network Awards \| 2013 LTIP
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Restricted Performance Units (in shares)	782,250
Restricted Stock Units \| DISH Network Awards \| Other Employee Performance Awards
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Restricted Performance Units (in shares)	600,000
Restricted Stock Units \| DISH Network Awards \| Held by DISH DBS employees
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Restricted Performance Units (in shares)	1,382,250