Sirius XM Holdings Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details)	1 Months Ended					9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($) installment	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Total future minimum guarantee payments	$ 780,100,000					$ 780,100,000
Future minimum guarantee commitments to be paid this year	18,100,000					18,100,000
Future minimum guarantee commitments to be paid this year due in 2017	354,900,000					354,900,000
Pre-1972 Copyright Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of litigation installments \| installment					4
Litigation settlement, amount					$ 90,000,000
Payment for legal settlement	$ 7,500,000.0	$ 7,500,000.0	$ 7,500,000.0	$ 7,500,000	$ 60,000,000
Litigation settlement, expense						$ 24,600,000	$ 57,900,000
Pre-1972 Copyright Litigation \| Cost of revenue - content acquisition costs
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, expense								$ 65,400,000