Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 5,164,593	$ 5,191,840
Accumulated depreciation	(3,545,069)	(3,440,267)
Property and equipment, net	1,619,524	1,751,573
Equipment leased to customers
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 1,753,757	1,837,503
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
EchoStar XVIII
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 411,255	411,255
Depreciable life of assets	15 years
Satellites acquired under finance lease agreements
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 398,107	398,107
Depreciable life of assets	15 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 1,956,431	1,894,629
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	20 years
Buildings and improvements
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 294,651	289,421
Buildings and improvements \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable life of assets	5 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	$ 59,548	$ 70,081

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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Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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