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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SyS6XjAEl6GEDoajBRhvEwsEUdkk6CTh91VV8DaINjtQQpBjmSvYTlbejPzlxi+F
 7KijHegw308K6XhcK2VSlw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019056-07-000397.txt : 20070426
<SEC-HEADER>0001019056-07-000397.hdr.sgml : 20070426
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070426185205
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019056-07-000397
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060830
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070426
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070426

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITED RENTALS INC /DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001067701
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EQUIPMENT RENTAL & LEASING, NEC [7359]
		IRS NUMBER:				061522496
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FOUR GREENWICH OFFICE PARK
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036223131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FOUR GREENWICH OFFICE PARK
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Helvie Todd G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001375001

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14387
		FILM NUMBER:		07792780

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(212) 715-9100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KRAMER LEVIN NAFTALIS & FRANKEL LLP
		STREET 2:		1177 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-08-30</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2006-09-08</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001067701</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED RENTALS INC /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>URI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001375001</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Helvie Todd G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNITED RENTALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FIVE GREENWICH OFFICE PARK</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06831</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP and Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>260</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares, purchased by the reporting person in the open market on August 10, 2006, were inadvertently omitted from his original Form 3 filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These units, which were awarded to the reporting person on August 30, 2006, were inadvertently omitted from his original Form 3 filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Subject to acceleration in certain circumstances, all 5,000 units shall vest on August 30, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Upon vesting, the units will be settled with shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ TODD G. HELVIE</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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