Related Party Transactions - DISH Network (Details) $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 21, 2012	Dec. 21, 2012	Jan. 02, 2012 item	May 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2009 item	Dec. 31, 2008 item
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization						$ 109,919	$ 125,016	$ 336,552	$ 382,970
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized						159,783	171,246	$ 495,971	517,633
EchoStar XVI
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement Renewal Option Term		5 years
Nimiq 5 Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement Renewal Option Term								1 year
Depreciation and amortization							9,000	$ 26,000	26,000
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized							3,000	9,000	11,000
TT&C Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Purchase of renewal of agreement			1 year
Number of automatic renewal period | item			4
Notice period for termination of agreement			12 months
Office Space from DISH Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses associated with services						2,000	2,000	5,000	6,000
Santa Fe Lease Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Additional term of renewal option										1 year	1 year
Broadband, Wireless and Other Segments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses associated with services						26,000	16,000	66,000	55,000
EchoStar | EchoStar XVI
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement term from commencement of service date		4 years
Agreement Renewal Option Term					1 year
Additional term of renewal option	5 years			5 years
EchoStar | Telesat Transponder Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement term with third party												15 years
Number of DBS transponders available to receive services | item												32
EchoStar | DISH Nimiq 5 Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of DBS transponders currently used | item												32
Agreement term												10 years
EchoStar | QuetzSat-1 Lease Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement term with third party													10 years
Number of DBS transponders available to receive services | item													32
Number of DBS transponders currently used | item													24
Dish Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses associated with services						$ 56,000	$ 56,000	$ 168,000	$ 168,000