Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Details)

v3.3.0.814
Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Details)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Millions
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Apr. 25, 2014
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
director
shares
Sep. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
director
shares
Sep. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Oct. 09, 2013
USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Stock repurchased during period, value       $ 1,646,798,000 $ 2,006,013,000      
Loss on change in value of derivatives   $ 0 $ 0 0 34,485,000      
Current portion of deferred revenue   1,711,435,000   1,711,435,000     $ 1,632,381,000  
Deferred revenue, Noncurrent   $ 154,473,000   154,473,000     151,901,000  
Common Stock [Member]                
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount           $ 2,000,000,000    
Stock repurchased during period, value       $ 0        
Liberty Media [Member]                
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Loss on change in value of derivatives         $ 34,485,000      
Liberty Media [Member] | Executives [Member]                
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Number of Related Party Members on the Board of Directors | director   2   2        
Liberty Media [Member] | Director [Member]                
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Number of Related Party Members on the Board of Directors | director   1   1        
Liberty Media [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | October 2013 Share Repurchase Program [Member]                
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount               $ 500,000,000
Stock repurchased during period, value $ 340,000,000              
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 3.66              
Liberty Media [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Minimum [Member]                
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Related party ownership percentage   50.00%   50.00%        
Sirius XM Canada [Member]                
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Equity method investment, ownership percentage   37.00%   37.00%        
Equity Method Investment, Voting Interest   25.00%   25.00%        
Current portion of deferred revenue   $ 2,776,000   $ 2,776,000     2,776,000  
Deferred revenue, Noncurrent   $ 11,333,000   $ 11,333,000     $ 13,415,000  
Sirius XM Canada [Member] | Sirius Platform                
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Percentage Based Royalty       10.00%        
Agreement Expiration Year       2017        
Sirius XM Canada [Member] | X M Platform                
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Percentage Based Royalty       15.00%        
Agreement Expiration Year       2020        
Sirius XM Canada [Member] | Related Party Class A Stock [Member]                
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Sirius XM Canada Class A shares owned on a converted basis (in shares) | shares   47.3   47.3