Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011 branches		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 RSC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 RSC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 RSC [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Non Rental Depreciation And Amortization [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Non Rental Depreciation And Amortization [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 QUIPS [Member] Unconsolidated Subsidiaries [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 QUIPS [Member] Unconsolidated Subsidiaries [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 10 7/8 percent Senior Notes and 1 7/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 10 7/8 percent Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 1 7/8 percent Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 6 1/2 Subordinated Convertible Debentures [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 6 1/2 Subordinated Convertible Debentures [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 6 1/2 Subordinated Convertible Debentures [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Facility Closing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Facility Closing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 ABL Facility [Member]
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
RSC merger related costs					$ 111		$ 19		$ 0	$ 13	$ 19
Restructuring charge					99		19		34															6	14
Asset impairment charges														2	3
Stated interest rate																			10.875%	1.875%			6.50%
Gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt					(72)		(3)		(28)									(72)			1	(2)
Self insurance reserve benefit	6		8
Costs recognized out of period	8
Number of branches closed			18
Repurchase of common stock																32	69
Shares repurchased and retired																32	68
Write off of deferred debt issuance cost																										3
Debt and capital lease obligations	$ 7,309	[1]	$ 2,987	[1]	$ 7,309	[1]	$ 2,987	[1]				$ 2,825	[2]

[1] In August 1998, a subsidiary trust of Holdings (the “Trust”) issued and sold $300 of 6 1/2 percent Convertible Quarterly Income Preferred Securities (“QUIPS”) in a private offering. The Trust used the proceeds from the offering to purchase 6 1/2 percent subordinated convertible debentures due 2028 (the “Debentures”), which resulted in Holdings receiving all of the net proceeds of the offering. The QUIPS are non-voting securities, carry a liquidation value of $50 (fifty dollars) per security and are convertible into Holdings’ common stock. Total long-term debt at December 31, 2012 and 2011 excludes $55 of these Debentures, which are separately classified in our consolidated balance sheets and referred to as “subordinated convertible debentures.” The subordinated convertible debentures reflect the obligation to our subsidiary that has issued the QUIPS. This subsidiary is not consolidated in our financial statements because we are not the primary beneficiary of the Trust. See note 13 (“Subordinated Convertible Debentures”) for additional detail.

[2] 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.