Condensed Consolidating Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Equipment rentals																	$ 3,455		$ 2,151		$ 1,834
Sales of rental equipment																	399		208		144
Sales of new equipment																	93		84		78
Contractor supplies sales																	87		85		95
Service and other revenues																	83		83		86
Total revenues	1,249	[1]	1,219	[1]	993	[1]	656	[1]	746	[2]	713	[2]	629	[2]	523	[2]	4,117	[1]	2,611	[2]	2,237
Cost of revenues:
Cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation																	1,392		992		924
Depreciation of rental equipment																	699		423		389
Cost of rental equipment sales																	274		142		103
Cost of new equipment sales																	74		67		65
Cost of contractor supplies sales																	62		58		66
Cost of service and other revenues																	29		31		32
Total cost of revenues																	2,530		1,713		1,579
Gross profit	495	[1]	505	[1]	374	[1]	213	[1]	275	[2]	274	[2]	211	[2]	138	[2]	1,587	[1]	898	[2]	658
Selling, general and administrative expenses																	588		407		367
RSC merger related costs																	111		19		0
Restructuring charge																	99		19		34
Non-rental depreciation and amortization																	198		57		60
Operating income	236	[1]	222	[1]	46	[1]	87	[1]	115	[2]	156	[2]	95	[2]	30	[2]	591	[1]	396	[2]	197
Interest expense, net																	512		228		255
Interest expense—subordinated convertible debentures, net																	4		7		8
Other (income) expense, net																	(13)		(3)		(3)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes																	88		164		(63)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes																	13		63		(41)
(Loss) income before equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	75		101		(26)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	41	[1]	73	[1]	(52)	[1]	13	[1]	28	[2]	65	[2]	28	[2]	(20)	[2]	75	[1]	101	[2]	(22)
Loss from discontinued operation, net of taxes																	0		0		(4)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	0		0		0
Net income (loss)	41	[1]	73	[1]	(52)	[1]	13	[1]	29	[2]	65	[2]	27	[2]	(20)	[2]	75	[1]	101	[2]	(26)
Other comprehensive income (loss)																	9		(12)		20
Comprehensive income (loss)																	84		89		(6)
Parent Company [Member]
Revenues:
Equipment rentals																	0		0		0
Sales of rental equipment																	0		0		0
Sales of new equipment																	0		0		0
Contractor supplies sales																	0		0		0
Service and other revenues																	0		0		0
Total revenues																	0		0		0
Cost of revenues:
Cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation																	0		0		0
Depreciation of rental equipment																	0		0		0
Cost of rental equipment sales																	0		0		0
Cost of new equipment sales																	0		0		0
Cost of contractor supplies sales																	0		0		0
Cost of service and other revenues																	0		0		0
Total cost of revenues																	0		0		0
Gross profit																	0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses																	0		7		21
RSC merger related costs																	0		0
Restructuring charge																	0		0		0
Non-rental depreciation and amortization																	16		15		13
Operating income																	(16)		(22)		(34)
Interest expense, net																	13		12		12
Interest expense—subordinated convertible debentures, net																	4		7		8
Other (income) expense, net																	(86)		(73)		(62)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes																	53		32		8
Provision (benefit) for income taxes																	60		9		3
(Loss) income before equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	(7)		23		5
Income (loss) from continuing operations																					5
Loss from discontinued operation, net of taxes																					0
Equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	82		78		(31)
Net income (loss)																	75		101		(26)
Other comprehensive income (loss)																	9		(12)		20
Comprehensive income (loss)																	84		89		(6)
URNA [Member]
Revenues:
Equipment rentals																	2,699		1,037		940
Sales of rental equipment																	318		117		73
Sales of new equipment																	60		38		41
Contractor supplies sales																	60		37		41
Service and other revenues																	58		43		46
Total revenues																	3,195		1,272		1,141
Cost of revenues:
Cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation																	1,071		479		463
Depreciation of rental equipment																	558		220		214
Cost of rental equipment sales																	223		80		51
Cost of new equipment sales																	48		30		34
Cost of contractor supplies sales																	44		26		30
Cost of service and other revenues																	21		19		20
Total cost of revenues																	1,965		854		812
Gross profit																	1,230		418		329
Selling, general and administrative expenses																	455		162		149
RSC merger related costs																	111		19
Restructuring charge																	95		7		21
Non-rental depreciation and amortization																	160		19		26
Operating income																	409		211		133
Interest expense, net																	432		207		237
Interest expense—subordinated convertible debentures, net																	0		0		0
Other (income) expense, net																	123		61		54
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes																	(146)		(57)		(158)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes																	(101)		(4)		(78)
(Loss) income before equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	(45)		(53)		(84)
Income (loss) from continuing operations																					(80)
Loss from discontinued operation, net of taxes																					(4)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	127		131		53
Net income (loss)																	82		78		(31)
Other comprehensive income (loss)																	9		(12)		20
Comprehensive income (loss)																	91		66		(11)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Equipment rentals																	249		742		629
Sales of rental equipment																	32		63		48
Sales of new equipment																	7		21		18
Contractor supplies sales																	7		25		30
Service and other revenues																	8		22		23
Total revenues																	303		873		748
Cost of revenues:
Cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation																	116		352		331
Depreciation of rental equipment																	50		137		130
Cost of rental equipment sales																	20		44		36
Cost of new equipment sales																	6		17		15
Cost of contractor supplies sales																	5		17		20
Cost of service and other revenues																	3		7		9
Total cost of revenues																	200		574		541
Gross profit																	103		299		207
Selling, general and administrative expenses																	47		143		121
RSC merger related costs																	0		0
Restructuring charge																	0		9		13
Non-rental depreciation and amortization																	5		17		17
Operating income																	51		130		56
Interest expense, net																	35		6		6
Interest expense—subordinated convertible debentures, net																	0		0		0
Other (income) expense, net																	10		37		28
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes																	6		87		22
Provision (benefit) for income taxes																	15		28		7
(Loss) income before equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	(9)		59		15
Income (loss) from continuing operations																					15
Loss from discontinued operation, net of taxes																					0
Equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	118		62		32
Net income (loss)																	109		121		47
Other comprehensive income (loss)																	8		(11)		20
Comprehensive income (loss)																	117		110		67
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries Foreign [Member]
Revenues:
Equipment rentals																	507		372		265
Sales of rental equipment																	49		28		23
Sales of new equipment																	26		25		19
Contractor supplies sales																	20		23		24
Service and other revenues																	17		18		17
Total revenues																	619		466		348
Cost of revenues:
Cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation																	205		161		130
Depreciation of rental equipment																	91		66		45
Cost of rental equipment sales																	31		18		16
Cost of new equipment sales																	20		20		16
Cost of contractor supplies sales																	13		15		16
Cost of service and other revenues																	5		5		3
Total cost of revenues																	365		285		226
Gross profit																	254		181		122
Selling, general and administrative expenses																	74		75		56
RSC merger related costs																	0		0
Restructuring charge																	4		3		0
Non-rental depreciation and amortization																	17		6		4
Operating income																	159		97		62
Interest expense, net																	3		4		(3)
Interest expense—subordinated convertible debentures, net																	0		0		0
Other (income) expense, net																	12		12		12
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes																	144		81		53
Provision (benefit) for income taxes																	28		24		22
(Loss) income before equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	116		57		31
Income (loss) from continuing operations																					31
Loss from discontinued operation, net of taxes																					0
Equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	0		0		0
Net income (loss)																	116		57		31
Other comprehensive income (loss)																	3		(6)		13
Comprehensive income (loss)																	119		51		44
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries SPV [Member]
Revenues:
Equipment rentals																	0		0		0
Sales of rental equipment																	0		0		0
Sales of new equipment																	0		0		0
Contractor supplies sales																	0		0		0
Service and other revenues																	0		0		0
Total revenues																	0		0		0
Cost of revenues:
Cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation																	0		0		0
Depreciation of rental equipment																	0		0		0
Cost of rental equipment sales																	0		0		0
Cost of new equipment sales																	0		0		0
Cost of contractor supplies sales																	0		0		0
Cost of service and other revenues																	0		0		0
Total cost of revenues																	0		0		0
Gross profit																	0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses																	12		20		20
RSC merger related costs																	0		0
Restructuring charge																	0		0		0
Non-rental depreciation and amortization																	0		0		0
Operating income																	(12)		(20)		(20)
Interest expense, net																	33		4		4
Interest expense—subordinated convertible debentures, net																	0		0		0
Other (income) expense, net																	(72)		(40)		(35)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes																	27		16		11
Provision (benefit) for income taxes																	11		6		5
(Loss) income before equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	16		10		6
Income (loss) from continuing operations																					6
Loss from discontinued operation, net of taxes																					0
Equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	0		0		0
Net income (loss)																	16		10		6
Other comprehensive income (loss)																	0		0		0
Comprehensive income (loss)																	16		10		6
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Equipment rentals																	0		0		0
Sales of rental equipment																	0		0		0
Sales of new equipment																	0		0		0
Contractor supplies sales																	0		0		0
Service and other revenues																	0		0		0
Total revenues																	0		0		0
Cost of revenues:
Cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation																	0		0		0
Depreciation of rental equipment																	0		0		0
Cost of rental equipment sales																	0		0		0
Cost of new equipment sales																	0		0		0
Cost of contractor supplies sales																	0		0		0
Cost of service and other revenues																	0		0		0
Total cost of revenues																	0		0		0
Gross profit																	0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses																	0		0		0
RSC merger related costs																	0		0
Restructuring charge																	0		0		0
Non-rental depreciation and amortization																	0		0		0
Operating income																	0		0		0
Interest expense, net																	(4)		(5)		(1)
Interest expense—subordinated convertible debentures, net																	0		0		0
Other (income) expense, net																	0		0		0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes																	4		5		1
Provision (benefit) for income taxes																	0		0		0
(Loss) income before equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	4		5		1
Income (loss) from continuing operations																					1
Loss from discontinued operation, net of taxes																					0
Equity in net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries																	(327)		(271)		(54)
Net income (loss)																	(323)		(266)		(53)
Other comprehensive income (loss)																	(20)		29		(53)
Comprehensive income (loss)																	$ (343)		$ (237)		$ (106)

[1] During the fourth quarter of 2012, we recognized $13 of charges related to the RSC merger. Additionally, during the quarter, we recognized restructuring charges of $6, primarily reflecting branch closure charges associated with the RSC merger. During the quarter, we also recognized asset impairment charges of $2 which are primarily reflected in non-rental depreciation and amortization and principally relate to write-offs of leasehold improvements and other fixed assets. During the fourth quarter of 2012, we redeemed our 10 7/8 percent Senior Notes and all of our outstanding 1 7/8 percent Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes were converted. Upon redemption/conversion, we recognized a loss of $72 in interest expense, net. The loss represents the difference between the net carrying amount and the total purchase/conversion price of these securities. During the quarter, we also recognized a benefit of $6 in cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation related to our provision for self-insurance reserves. Additionally, operating income for the fourth quarter 2012 includes $8 of costs, in the aggregate, primarily related to the merger, which should have been recognized in the second and third quarters of 2012. There is no impact on 2012 full year operating income.

[2] During the fourth quarter of 2011, we recognized $19 of charges associated with the RSC acquisition. Additionally, during the quarter, we closed 18 branches and recognized restructuring charges of $14. During the quarter, we also recognized asset impairment charges of $3 which are primarily reflected in non-rental depreciation and amortization and principally relate to write-offs of leasehold improvements and other fixed assets in connection with our closed restructuring program. In the quarter, we also purchased an aggregate of $32 of QUIPS for $32. In connection with this transaction, we retired $32 principal amount of our subordinated convertible debentures and recognized a loss of $1 in interest expense-subordinated convertible debentures, net, inclusive of the write-off of capitalized debt issuance costs. Interest expense, net for the fourth quarter of 2011 also includes a loss of $3 reflecting write-offs of debt issuance costs associated with the amendment of our ABL facility discussed above. During the quarter, we also recognized a benefit of $8 in cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation related to our provision for self-insurance reserves.