| 
           Related Party Transactions (Tables)
  
         | 
        12 Months Ended | 
      
      
        | 
           Dec. 31, 2011 
         | 
      
      
        | Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Summary of Related Party Balances | 
        
   
   
   
   
   |   | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
Related party current
   assets
 | 
     | 
     | 
   
Related party long-term
   assets
 | 
     | 
     | 
   
Related party current
   liabilities
 | 
     | 
     | 
   
Related party long-term 
   liabilities
 | 
     | 
     | 
   
Related party long-term
   debt
 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   2011* | 
     | 
     | 
   2010 | 
     | 
     | 
   2011* | 
     | 
     | 
   2010 | 
     | 
     | 
   2011* | 
     | 
     | 
   2010 | 
     | 
     | 
   2011* | 
     | 
     | 
   2010 | 
     | 
     | 
   2011* | 
     | 
     | 
   2010 | 
     | 
    
   
   
   
   | 
    Liberty Media 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   1,212 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   1,571 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   9,722 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   9,765 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   328,788 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   325,907 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Sirius XM Canada 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   14,702 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   53,741 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   4,580 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   21,741 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Sirius Canada 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   5,613 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   1,805 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    XM Canada 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   1,106 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   31,904 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   4,275 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   24,517 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Total 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   14,702 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   6,719 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   54,953 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   33,475 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   14,302 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   15,845 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   21,741 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   24,517 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   328,788 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   325,907 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
    
     
   
   
   | * | 
   Sirius Canada and XM Canada combined in June 2011. The combined entity now operates as Sirius XM Canada.  | 
    
    
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Liberty Media [Member] 
         | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Summary of Related Party Long Term Debt | 
        
   
   
   
   
   |   | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   December 31, 2011 | 
     | 
     | 
   December 31, 2010 | 
     | 
    
   
   
   
   | 
    8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   150,000 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   150,000 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   50,000 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   50,000 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    13% Senior Notes due 2013 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   76,000 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   76,000 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   11,000 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   11,000 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   50,000 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   50,000 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Total principal debt 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   337,000 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   337,000 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Less: discounts 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   8,212 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   11,093 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Total carrying value debt 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   328,788 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   325,907 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
    
 | 
      
      
        | 
           SIRIUS XM Canada [Member] 
         | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenue from Related Party Transactions | 
        
   
   
   
   
   |   | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   For the Year Ended December 31, | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   2011* | 
     | 
    
   
   
   
   | 
    Royalty income 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   13,735 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Amortization of Sirius XM Canada deferred income 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   1,388 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Licensing fee revenue 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   3,000 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Advertising reimbursements 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   417 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Total revenue from Sirius XM Canada 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   18,540 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
    
     
   
   
   | * | 
   Sirius XM Canada commenced operations on June 2011.  | 
    
    
 | 
      
      
        | 
           SIRIUS Canada [Member] 
         | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenue from Related Party Transactions | 
        
   
   
   
   
   |   | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
       For the Years Ended December 31,    
    | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
       2011*     | 
     | 
     | 
       2010     | 
     | 
     | 
       2009     | 
     | 
    
   
   
   
   | 
    Royalty income 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   9,945 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   10,684 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   5,797 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Dividend income 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   460 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   926 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   839 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Total revenue from Sirius Canada 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   10,405 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   11,610 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   6,636 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
    
     
   
   
   | * | 
   Sirius Canada combined with XM Canada in June 2011.  | 
    
    
 | 
      
      
        | 
           XM Canada [Member] 
         | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenue from Related Party Transactions | 
        
   
   
   
   
   |   | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   For the Years Ended December 31, | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   2011* | 
     | 
     | 
   2010 | 
     | 
     | 
   2009 | 
     | 
    
   
   
   
   | 
    Amortization of XM Canada deferred income 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   1,388 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   2,776 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   2,776 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Subscriber and activation fee royalties 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   5,483 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   10,313 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   11,603 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Licensing fee revenue 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   3,000 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   4,500 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   6,000 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Advertising reimbursements 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   833 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   1,083 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   1,067 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Total revenue from XM Canada 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   10,704 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   18,672 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   21,446 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
    
     
   
   
   | * | 
   XM Canada combined with Sirius Canada in June 2011.  | 
    
    
 | 
      
      
        | 
           General Motors Company and American Honda [Member] 
         | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenue from Related Party Transactions | 
        
   
   
   
   
   |   | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
       For the Years Ended December 31,    
    | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
           2010*        
    | 
     | 
     | 
           2009        
    | 
     | 
    
   
   
   
   | 
    GM 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   12,759 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   31,037 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    American Honda 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   4,990 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   12,254 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Total 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   17,749 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   43,291 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
    
     
   
   
   | * | 
   GM and American Honda were considered related parties through May 27, 2010.  | 
    
    
 | 
      
      
        | Expenses Incurred with General Motors and American Honda | 
        
   
   
   
   
   |   | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   For the Years Ended December 31, | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   2010* | 
     | 
     | 
   2009 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   GM | 
     | 
     | 
   American Honda | 
     | 
     | 
   GM | 
     | 
     | 
   American Honda | 
     | 
    
   
   
   
   | 
    Sales and marketing 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   13,374 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   31,595 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   500 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Revenue share and royalties 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   15,823 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   3,167 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   58,992 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   6,541 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Subscriber acquisition costs 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   17,514 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   1,969 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   34,895 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   5,397 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Customer service and billing 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   125 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   268 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   1,421 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   4,644 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   — | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Total 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   48,257 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   5,136 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   130,394 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   12,438 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
    
     
   
   
   | * | 
   GM and American Honda were considered related parties through May 27, 2010.  | 
    
    
 |