Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 4,602,239	$ 4,928,675
Accumulated depreciation	(3,276,204)	(3,550,726)
Property and equipment, net	1,326,035	1,377,949
Equipment leased to customers
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 1,908,048	1,980,808
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
Satalites Acquired Under Finance Lease Agreements [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 223,423	499,819
Satalites Acquired Under Finance Lease Agreements [Member] \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	10 years
Satalites Acquired Under Finance Lease Agreements [Member] \| Maximum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	15 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 1,849,292	1,820,883
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	$ 283,881	289,244
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	13,186
Construction in progress
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 46,751	$ 47,077

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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