Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest expense (income) directly attributable to an award in settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

Amount of loss contingency liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cash received for the settlement of litigation during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

+ 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 210.5-03.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 4

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 330

-SubTopic 10

-Section 30

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34747878&loc=d3e3636-108311

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis=vsat_ImpliedLicenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis=vsat_OtherDamagesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_UnfavorableRegulatoryActionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=vsat_SatelliteViasatTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=vsat_SatelliteServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Sep. 05, 2014	Jan. 02, 2015	Jan. 03, 2014	Jan. 02, 2015	Jan. 03, 2014	May 31, 2013	Apr. 04, 2014
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement amount	$ 108,712,000us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Proceeds from legal settlement		6,900,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromLegalSettlements		46,900,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromLegalSettlements
Product revenues		174,299,000us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	193,846,000us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	536,352,000us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	586,398,000us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Selling, general and administrative expenses		70,962,000	69,100,000	194,462,000	207,474,000
Interest income		900,000us-gaap_LitigationSettlementInterest		1,200,000us-gaap_LitigationSettlementInterest
Implied license [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement amount	85,132,000
Other damages [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement amount	18,714,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses				18,700,000
Satellite Services [Member] \| Implied license [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product revenues		6,000,000		27,000,000
Unfavorable Regulatory Action [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Total U.S. government contract-related reserves balance		5,200,000		5,200,000			6,700,000
Satellite - ViaSat-2 [Member] \| Capital Addition Purchase Commitments [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Purchase price under agreement						$ 358,000,000