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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019056-07-000576.txt : 20070611
<SEC-HEADER>0001019056-07-000576.hdr.sgml : 20070611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070611174334
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019056-07-000576
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070607
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070611
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070611

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:			HICKS WAYLAND R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001100224

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14387
		FILM NUMBER:		07913360

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O UNITED RENTALS INC
		STREET 2:		FOUR GREENWICH OFFICE PARK
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036223131
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-06-07</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001100224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HICKS WAYLAND R</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-06-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>133334</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>133334</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>149998</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>133334</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>133334</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>283332</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Restricted Stock Unit, upon vesting, entitles the reporting person to receive one share of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As a result of the reporting person's retirement as chief executive officer of the issuer on June 4, 2007, an aggregate of 133,334 Restricted Stock Units, which had time-based vesting and would have accelerated and vested in full upon any change-in-control of the issuer, were forfeited. Although disposition of a long derivative security position as a result of cancellation is exempt from Section 16(a) reporting (see Rule 16a-4(d)), the reporting person is voluntarily reporting the forfeiture to place in context the new award reported on this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Consists of 149,998 Phantom Stock Units that represent previously vested Restricted Stock Units, both time-based and performance-based, with respect to which payment has been deferred.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents a grant of 133,334 Restricted Stock Units that vest only in the event that a change-in-control of the issuer occurs on or prior to December 31, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents the unvested 133,334 Restricted Stock Units reported as having been awarded pursuant to this Form 4 and 149,998 Phantom Stock Units that represent previously vested Restricted Stock Units, both time-based and performance-based, with respect to which payment has been deferred.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Common Stock will be paid to the reporting person, in settlement of the Phantom Stock Units, six months following the reporting person's termination of employment (in the case of 49,998 of the Units) or service as a director (in the case of 100,000 of the Units), subject to earlier payment in the event of a change in control of the issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ WAYLAND R. HICKS</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-06-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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