Debt and Subordinated Convertible Debentures Debt and Subordinated Convertible Debentures (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified			1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended								9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 10 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 8 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 30, 2012 5 3/4 percent Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 5 3/4 percent Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 5 3/4 percent Senior Secured Notes [Member]		Mar. 30, 2012 7 3/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 7 3/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 7 3/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]		Mar. 30, 2012 7 5/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 7 5/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 7 5/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]		Nov. 30, 2009 4 percent Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 4 percent Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 ABL Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 After July 15, 2015 [Member] 5 3/4 percent Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 After July 15, 2017 [Member] 5 3/4 percent Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 After May 15, 2016 [Member] 7 3/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 After May 15, 2018 [Member] 7 3/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 After April 15, 2017 [Member] 7 5/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 After April 15, 2020 [Member] 7 5/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Minimum [Member] 4 percent Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Maximum [Member] 4 percent Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 RSC Holdings Inc [Member] 10 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 RSC Holdings Inc [Member] 10 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Nov. 30, 2009 RSC Holdings Inc [Member] 10 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 RSC Holdings Inc [Member] 8 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 RSC Holdings Inc [Member] 8 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 RSC Holdings Inc [Member] 8 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]		Nov. 30, 2009 RSC Holdings Inc [Member] After November 15, 2014 [Member] 10 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Nov. 30, 2009 RSC Holdings Inc [Member] After November 15, 2017 [Member] 10 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 RSC Holdings Inc [Member] After February 1, 2016 [Member] 8 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 RSC Holdings Inc [Member] After February 1, 2019 [Member] 8 1/4 percent Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount					$ 750	[1]			$ 750	[1]			$ 1,325	[1]	$ 173													$ 200	[1]			$ 650	[1]
Redemption price percent																		102.875%	100.00%	103.688%	100.00%	103.813%	100.00%											105.125%	100.00%	104.125%	100.00%
Redemption purchase price in cash percent					101.00%				101.00%				101.00%															101.00%				101.00%
Unamortized portion of fair value adjustment from assumed debt carriying value																										24				47
Effective interest rate																7.50%										8.30%				7.00%
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			733				732				1,295
Stated interest rate	10.25%	8.25%		5.75%				7.375%				7.625%				4.00%											10.25%				8.25%
Hedge transactions cost															26
Hedge transactions cost decreased APIC															17
Convertible note hedge transactions shares (in shares)																15.1
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share)																$ 15.56
Percentage premium over price at issuance																75.00%
Closing price at issuance (in dollars per share)																$ 8.89
Market price per share (in dollars per share)																								$ 35.00	$ 40.00
Convertible equity shares (in shares)																								8.4	9.2
Maximum borrowing capacity																	1,900
Maximum revolving credit amount percentage																	10.00%
Debt terms reference amount to maximum revolving credit																	$ 150

[1] In connection with the RSC merger, on March 9, 2012, we issued the merger financing notes. See below for additional detail regarding each of the merger financing notes.