Document and Entity Information Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Statement Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Revenue, Net Revenue Net revenue Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Costs and expenses: Cost of Revenue Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization expense Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions Restructuring charges Operating Income (Loss) Income (loss) from operations Interest Income (Expense), Nonoperating, Net Interest expense, net Interest (expense) income, net Interest expense, net Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt Loss from early extinguishment of debt Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other (expense) income, net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Income before income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax benefit (expense) Income tax benefit (expense) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income Net income Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact Preferred stock dividends Undistributed Earnings, Basic Net income less preferred stock dividends Undistributed Earnings Allocated to Participating Securities Income allocated to participating securities Income allocated to participating securities Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net income (loss) available to common stockholders Earnings Per Share Earnings (loss) per share: Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic (loss) earnings per share(in dollars per share) Basic loss per share (in dollars per share) Basic (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share) Diluted loss per share (in dollars per share) Diluted (in dollars per share) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic Basic (in shares) Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding Diluted Diluted (in shares) Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Assets, Current [Abstract] CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Restricted cash Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2.8 and $0.5, respectively Deferred Set-up Costs, Current Short-term deferred contract costs Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid and current assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current Deferred taxes Assets, Current Total current assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,179.4 and $1095.5, respectively Goodwill Balance at the end of the period Balance at the beginning of the period Goodwill Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $29.6 and $19.5, respectively Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent Long-term restricted cash Deferred Set-up Costs, Noncurrent Long-term deferred contract costs Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Assets Total assets Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities, Current [Abstract] CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Long-term Debt, Current Maturities Less: current maturities of long-term debt Current portion of long-term debt Other Accrued Liabilities, Current Other accrued liabilities Total other accrued liabilities Deferred Revenue, Current Deferred revenue Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent Deferred revenue, non-current Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Long-term debt, net of discount and debt issuance costs (Note 6) Long-term debt, net Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent Deferred tax liability, net, non-current (Note 11) Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Stockholders' Equity DigitalGlobe, Inc. stockholders' equity: Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock; $0.001 par value; 250.0 shares authorized; 76.6 shares issued and 67.4 shares outstanding at December 31, 2015 and 76.1 shares issued and 73.2 shares outstanding at December 31, 2014 Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock, at cost; 9.2 shares at December 31, 2015 and 2.9 shares at December 31, 2014 Additional Paid in Capital Additional paid-in capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Balance Total DigitalGlobe, Inc. stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Total stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Class of Stock [Axis] Class Of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts (in dollars) Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Accumulated depreciation and amortization Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation (in dollars) Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization Accumulated Amortization Intangible assets, accumulated amortization (in dollars) Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred stock par value Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Preferred stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Treasury Stock, Shares Treasury stock, shares Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: The aggregate amount of non cash amortization related to aerial imagery, deferred contract costs and lease incentives. Amortization of Aerial Image Library Deferred Contract Costs and Lease Incentive Amortization of aerial image library, deferred contract costs and lease incentive Share-based Compensation Non-cash stock-based compensation expense, net of capitalized stock-based compensation expense Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation Noncash adjustment to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities for deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations. Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit Cash Flow Impact Deferred income taxes Write off of Deferred Debt Issuance Cost Write-off of debt issuance costs and debt discount Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to allocate debt discount and premium and debt issuance costs over the term of the related debt instruments, net of interest capitalized during the period. May include other noncash adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities that are not separately disclosed. Interest Expense and Other Amortization of debt issuance costs and accretion of debt discount, net of capitalized interest Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in working capital, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable, net Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Charges Deferred contract costs Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other current and non-current assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Payments of Debt Extinguishment Costs Cash fees paid for early extinguishment of long-term debt and debt discount Cash fees paid for early extinguishment of long-term debt and debt discount Penalty on early termination of debt Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash flows provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Payments for Construction in Process Construction in progress additions Payments to Acquire Other Property, Plant, and Equipment Property and equipment additions Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash (Increase) decrease in restricted cash Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture Loan to joint venture and other Equity financing to joint venture Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash flows used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt Proceeds from issuance of debt Repayments of Senior Debt Repayment of debt and capital lease obligations Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Payment of debt issuance costs Repurchase of common stock Repurchase of common stock Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Proceeds from exercise of stock options Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Preferred Stock and Preference Stock Preferred stock dividend payment Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash flows used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Continuing Operations Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Interest Paid, Net Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized amounts of $32.1,k $49.5 and $38.1 million, respectively Income Taxes Paid, Net Cash paid for income taxes Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Construction in Progress Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid Changes to non-cash property, equipment and construction in progress accruals, including interest Capital Lease Obligations Incurred Additions to capital lease obligations Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable Issuance of shares of common and convertible preferred stock for acquisition of business DigitalGlobe equity Value of share based awards issued as part of consideration transferred in a business combination, net of tax. Business Acquisition Cost of Acquired Entity Equity Interests Issued and Issuable Share Based Awards Net of Tax Stock-based compensation awards issued in acquisition of business, net of income taxes Future cash outflow to pay for preferred stock dividends that have been declared. Preferred Dividends Accrued Not Yet Paid Non-cash preferred stock dividend accrual Interest Paid, Capitalized Interest capitalized Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock Treasury Stock [Member] Treasury Stock Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Additional Paid-in Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Deficit Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity Shares, Issued Shares, Issued, Ending Balance Balance (in shares) Value of common stock issued pursuant to acquisitions during the period. Stock Issued During Period Common Stock Value Acquisitions Issuance of common stock for acquisition Number of shares of common stock issued during the period pursuant to acquisitions. Stock Issued During Period Common Stock Shares Acquisitions Issuance of common stock for acquisition (in shares) Value of preferred stock issued pursuant to acquisitions during the period. Stock Issued During Period Preferred Stock Value Acquisitions Issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock for acquisition Represents the amount recognized for vested share-based compensation awards assumed during the period as consideration in a business combination. Stock Issued for Value of Vested Option and Restricted Stock Assumed in Acquisition Fair value of vested options and restricted stock assumed in acquisition Number of shares of stock issued during the period for vested share-based awards assumed as consideration in a business combination. Business Acquisition Equity Interests Issued and Issuable Share Based Awards Fair value of vested options and restricted stock assumed in acquisition (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Stock issued upon exercise of stock options and stock grants Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Exercised (in shares) Stock issued upon exercise of stock options and stock grants (in shares) Adjustments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation Surrender of common stock to cover employees' minimum tax liability for vested awards Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation Surrender of common stock to cover employees' minimum tax liability for vested awards (in shares) Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Stock-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method Repurchases of common stock Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired Repurchases of common stock (in shares) Shares repurchased Dividends, Preferred Stock Preferred Stock dividends Preferred Stock dividend declared Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease) Noncontrolling interest Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation Tax benefit associated with share-based awards General Information Nature of Operations [Text Block] General Information Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Property and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Property and Equipment Business Acquisitions Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Business Acquisitions Goodwill and Intangibles Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Intangibles Debt Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Fair Values of Financial Instruments Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Values of Financial Instruments Deferred Revenue. Long-term Contracts or Programs Disclosure [Text Block] Deferred Revenue Restructuring and Related Activities Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Restructuring Charges Other Accrued Liabilities Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Other Accrued Liabilities Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Stock-Based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Subsequent Event. Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings Per share Related Party Transactions Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Related Party Transactions Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Significant Customers and Geographic Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Significant Customers and Geographic Information