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

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the maximum number of one year renewal options under the related party transactions agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
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- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the maximum number of three year renewal options under related party transactions agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the related party transactions agreement term.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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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

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

- Definition

Represents information pertaining to the minimum notice period for termination of agreement under the related party transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ddbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- 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 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=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=ddbs_ElPasoFeLeaseAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=ddbs_InvernessLeaseAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Related Party Transactions - Narrative Part 1 (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2017 item	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2009
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Subscriber-related expenses \| $		$ 2,182,555	$ 2,156,508	$ 6,543,542	$ 6,495,549
100 Inverness Lease Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity	180 days
EchoStar \| El Paso Lease Agreement \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of consecutive three year renewal options						4
Agreement Renewal Option Term						3 years
EchoStar \| Professional Services Agreement \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement term							1 year
Automatic renewal period				1 year
Minimum notice period for termination of agreement							60 days
EchoStar \| 90 Inverness Lease Agreement \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of consecutive three year renewal options	4
Agreement Renewal Option Term	3 years
EchoStar \| Cheyenne Lease Agreement \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of successive one year renewal options	13
Agreement Renewal Option Term	1 year
EchoStar \| Gilbert Lease Agreement \| Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of successive one year renewal options	13
Agreement Renewal Option Term	1 year
EchoStar \| Collocation And Antenna Space Agreements [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity	180 days