Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)

v3.7.0.1
Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
May 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
plan
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based payment expense   $ 29,446 $ 23,693  
Number of other share-based benefit plans | plan   4    
Options granted (in shares) | shares   0 0  
Expected dividend yield   0.80% 0.00%  
Deferred compensation contributions   $ 7,021 $ 3,798  
Fair value of investment assets related to deferred compensation plan   $ 12,283    
Sirius XM Savings Plan        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Minimum of employee contributions of pre-tax eligible earnings to Company 401(k) Savings Plan   1.00%    
Maximum of employee contributions of pre-tax eligible earnings to Company 401(k) Savings Plan   50.00%    
Percent of Company match of employee's voluntary contributions   50.00%    
Percent of employee's pre-tax salary   6.00%    
Maximum annual contributions per employee, percent   3.00%    
Vesting percentage of employer contributions for each year of employment   33.33%    
Savings plan, fully vested period   3 years    
Recognized cost   $ 1,682 1,691  
Employees And Non Employee Stock Option        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based payment expense   $ 19,512 19,039  
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares   $ 0.95    
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised   $ 34,662 4,470  
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares   3,887,000    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Shares        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based payment expense   $ 9,934 $ 4,654  
Shares granted (in shares) | shares   854,000    
Incremental shares granted (in shares) | shares   65,000    
Restricted Stock Units        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares   178,000    
Total intrinsic value of restricted stock units and stock awards vested   $ 1,745    
Performance-based Share Awards        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Award vesting period   3 years    
Shares granted (in shares) | shares   526,000    
Restricted Stock Units RSU and Stock Options        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested share based payment awards for restricted stock units, net of estimated forfeitures   $ 253,383   $ 266,045
Weighted average expected period for recognition of compensation expenses   2 years 4 months 24 days    
2015 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Restricted stock conversion to common stock 1      
Common stock available for future grants (in shares) | shares   182,795,000    
2015 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan | Employees And Non Employee Stock Option        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Stock option expiration period 10 years      
2015 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan | Minimum        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Award vesting period 3 years      
2015 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan | Maximum        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Award vesting period 4 years