Depreciation and Amortization, Excluding Financing Costs and Discounts

No definition available.

Name:	uri_DepreciationandAmortizationExcludingFinancingCostsandDiscounts
Namespace Prefix:	uri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Geographic Regions Entity Operates In

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	uri_NumberOfGeographicRegionsEntityOperatesIn
Namespace Prefix:	uri_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(11))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Assets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1,2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GrossProfit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenue derived from maintenance services provided under contracts or arrangements with clients. For example, it may include the maintenance of software, plant and equipment, and facilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MaintenanceRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from operating leases, including minimum lease revenue, contingent revenue, percentage revenue and sublease revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77902458&loc=d3e39896-112707

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesIncomeStatementLeaseRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=uri_RentalEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=uri_NewEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=uri_ContractorSuppliesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=uri_EquipmentRentalsOperatingLeaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=uri_GeneralRentalsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=uri_TrenchPowerandPumpMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Segment Information (Financial information by segment) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) location	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) location	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information
Equipment rentals	$ 1,536	$ 1,322	$ 4,069	$ 3,643
Service and other revenues	30	25	86	79
Total revenues	1,766	1,508	4,719	4,239
Depreciation and amortization expense	353	311	993	927
Gross profit	773	656	1,942	1,746
Capital expenditures			1,572	1,210
Assets	13,744		13,744		$ 11,988
Rental equipment
Segment Reporting Information
Sales revenue	139	112	378	361
New equipment
Segment Reporting Information
Sales revenue	40	30	126	96
Contractor supplies
Segment Reporting Information
Sales revenue	21	19	60	60
Equipment rentals under operating lease
Segment Reporting Information
Gross profit	$ 689	586	$ 1,709	1,517
General rentals
Segment Reporting Information
Number of geographic regions entity operates in (locations) \| location	10		10
Equipment rentals	$ 1,237	1,097	$ 3,357	3,067
Service and other revenues	26	23	76	71
Total revenues	1,444	1,266	3,942	3,605
Depreciation and amortization expense	306	266	855	791
Capital expenditures			1,404	1,086
Assets	12,118		12,118		10,496
General rentals \| Rental equipment
Segment Reporting Information
Sales revenue	130	103	348	334
General rentals \| New equipment
Segment Reporting Information
Sales revenue	34	27	112	84
General rentals \| Contractor supplies
Segment Reporting Information
Sales revenue	17	16	49	49
General rentals \| Equipment rentals under operating lease
Segment Reporting Information
Gross profit	525	469	1,350	1,243
Trench, power and pump
Segment Reporting Information
Equipment rentals	299	225	712	576
Service and other revenues	4	2	10	8
Total revenues	322	242	777	634
Depreciation and amortization expense	47	45	138	136
Capital expenditures			168	124
Assets	1,626		1,626		$ 1,492
Trench, power and pump \| Rental equipment
Segment Reporting Information
Sales revenue	9	9	30	27
Trench, power and pump \| New equipment
Segment Reporting Information
Sales revenue	6	3	14	12
Trench, power and pump \| Contractor supplies
Segment Reporting Information
Sales revenue	4	3	11	11
Trench, power and pump \| Equipment rentals under operating lease
Segment Reporting Information
Gross profit	$ 164	$ 117	$ 359	$ 274