Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Business & Basis of Presentation (Details)

v3.6.0.2
Business & Basis of Presentation (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2016
shareholder
segment
satellite_radio_system
Jun. 30, 2017
CAD / shares
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]      
Number of satellite radio systems | satellite_radio_system   2  
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]      
Number of reportable segments | segment   1  
Sirius XM Canada      
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]      
Number of shareholders | shareholder   2  
Sirius XM Canada | Forecast      
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]      
Equity method investment, equity interest 70.00%   70.00%
Equity method investment, voting interest 33.00%   33.00%
Value of cash, shares or exchangeable security per share of stock held (in dollars per share) | (per share) $ 3.50   CAD 4.50
Maximum percentage of consideration 50.00%    
Maximum number of shares issued in transaction (in shares) | shares 35,000,000    
Contribution in relation to transaction | $ $ 275,000    
Sirius XM Canada      
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]      
Equity method investment, equity interest   37.00%  
Equity method investment, voting interest   25.00%  
Common Stock | Liberty Media      
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]      
Related party ownership percentage   67.00%  
Minimum      
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]      
Length of prepaid subscriptions, term   3 months  
Maximum      
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]      
Length of prepaid subscriptions, term   12 months