Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 4,928,675	$ 5,121,816
Accumulated depreciation	(3,550,726)	(3,489,655)
Property and equipment, net	$ 1,377,949	1,632,161
Minimum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	2 years
Maximum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	40 years
Equipment leased to customers
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 1,980,808	2,264,653
Equipment leased to customers \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	2 years
Equipment leased to customers \| Maximum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	5 years
EchoStar XV
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 277,658	277,658
Depreciable life of assets	15 years
Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 499,819	499,819
Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	10 years
Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements \| Maximum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	15 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 1,820,883	1,680,492
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	2 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other \| Maximum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	10 years
Buildings and improvements
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 289,244	292,191
Buildings and improvements \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	4 years
Buildings and improvements \| Maximum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	40 years
Land
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 13,186	14,057
Construction in progress
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 47,077	$ 92,946

Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

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