Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 27, 2020	Jun. 30, 2018
Cover page.
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Registrant Name	United Rentals, Inc.
Entity File Number	1-13663
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	06-1522496
Entity Address, Address Line One	100 First Stamford Place, Suite 700
Entity Address, City or Town	Stamford
Entity Address, State or Province	CT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	06902
City Area Code	203
Local Phone Number	622-3131
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $.01 par value, of United Rentals, Inc.
Trading Symbol	URI
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 9,100
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		74,375,477
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of United Rentals, Inc.’s Proxy Statement related to the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is expected to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before March 24, 2020, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this annual report.
Entity Central Index Key	0001067701
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false