v3.20.2

Revenue Recognition - Contract Balances with Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2019
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net: |  |  |  |  |
Trade accounts receivable | $ 166,455 |  | $ 166,455 |  | $ 156,648
Contract assets | 43,896 |  | 43,896 |  | 63,758
Allowance for doubtful accounts | (19,401) |  | (19,401) |  | (23,777)
Total trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net | 190,950 |  | 190,950 |  | 196,629
Contract liabilities: |  |  |  |  |
Current | 89,622 |  | 89,622 |  | 101,060
Noncurrent | 11,663 |  | 11,663 |  | 10,572
Total contract liabilities | 101,285 |  | 101,285 |  | 111,632
Revenue recognized | 3,794 | $ 19,490 | 63,581 | $ 67,263 |
Sales and services |  |  |  |  |
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net: |  |  |  |  |
Trade accounts receivable | 162,390 |  | 162,390 |  | 152,632
Leasing |  |  |  |  |
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net: |  |  |  |  |
Trade accounts receivable | $ 4,065 |  | $ 4,065 |  | $ 4,016

X
- Definition Amount, before allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration from customer for product sold and service rendered in normal course of business, classified as current. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121593590&loc=d3e4428-111522 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121593590&loc=d3e4531-111522 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration from customer for product sold and service rendered in normal course of business, classified as current. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121593590&loc=d3e4428-111522 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(3)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121566466&loc=d3e6676-107765 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121593590&loc=d3e4531-111522 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of allowance for credit loss on accounts receivable, classified as current. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121611835&loc=d3e5074-111524 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 326 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599878&loc=SL82895884-210446 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetAndLiabilityAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, before allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer, when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556615&loc=SL49130531-203044 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556615&loc=SL49130533-203044 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556615&loc=SL49130531-203044 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130549-203045 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556615&loc=SL49130532-203044 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable, classified as current. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556615&loc=SL49130531-203044 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556615&loc=SL49130532-203044 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130549-203045 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable, classified as noncurrent. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556615&loc=SL49130532-203044 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556615&loc=SL49130531-203044 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130549-203045 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130549-203045 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReceivablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_ServiceMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=sats_LeaseReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |