Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)

v3.4.0.3
Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
May. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
plan
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 31, 2015
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based payment expense   $ 23,693 $ 19,417  
Number of other share-based benefit plans | plan   4    
Options granted (in shares) | shares     0  
Fair value of investment assets related to deferred compensation plan   $ 4,004    
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   $ 1,691 $ 3,027  
Employees And Non Employee Stock Option        
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based payment expense   $ 19,039 16,691  
Options granted (in shares) | shares   4,327,000    
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares   $ 0.74    
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised   $ 4,470 30,952  
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares   754,000    
Restricted Stock Units RSU and Stock Awards        
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based payment expense   $ 4,654 2,726  
Total intrinsic value of restricted stock units and stock awards vested   0 $ 0  
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   $ 227,370   $ 261,628
Weighted average expected period for recognition of compensation expenses   2 years 7 months 6 days    
Board of Directors        
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Options granted (in shares) | shares   0 0  
Third Parties        
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Options granted (in shares) | shares   0 0  
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   242,942,000    
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