Due to container investors Accounts receivable (owned fleet), net of allowance for doubtful accountsof $722 and $819 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization Accumulated other comprehensive loss Furniture, fixtures and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation Additional paid-in capital Purchase of containers Payments to Acquire Productive Assets Depreciation Accounts receivable (owned fleet), net of allowance for doubtful accounts Amortization of debt issuance costs Amortization of intangible assets CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS [Abstract] Basic (in dollars per share) Current portion of capital lease obligations Capital lease obligations Current portion of direct finance leases Net investment in direct finance leases Cash Cash at beginning of the period Cash at end of the period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Interest Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Prepaid expenses and other assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Changes in other operating assets and liabilities: Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common stock, shares issued (in shares) Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Common stock: par value $.0001 per share; authorized 84,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 19,295,359 shares at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 Comprehensive income attributable to CAI common stockholders Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Current liabilities Debt Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Debt [Abstract] Debt issuance costs Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Deferred income taxes Deferred tax assets Deferred income tax liability Unearned revenue Deferred Revenue, Current Diluted (in dollars per share) Effect on cash of foreign currency translation Stock-based compensation expense Gain on disposition of used container equipment Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Increase in restricted cash Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $6,775 and $6,519 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively Interest expense Finance lease income Net Investment in Direct Finance Leases Capital Leases in Financial Statements of Lessor Disclosure [Text Block] Total liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Revolving credit facility Non-controlling interest Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities as a Non-Controlling Interest Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure [Text Block] Net cash provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash flows from financing activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash flows from investing activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash flows from operating activities Net income attributable to CAI common stockholders Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net increase (decrease) in cash Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net interest expense Interest Income (Expense), Net Gain on sale of container portfolios Gain on sale of container portfolios Container rental revenue Operating income Operating Income (Loss) Total revenue Revenues Revenue Foreign currency translation adjustments Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Other current assets Current portion of term loans Term loans Prepaid expenses Proceeds from bank debt Net proceeds from disposition of used container equipment Net proceeds from sale of container portfolios Furniture, fixtures and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,114 and $1,006 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively Bad debt expense (recovery) Purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Related Party Transactions Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Principal payments on bank debt Repayments of Bank Debt Principal payments on capital leases Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Retained earnings Management fee revenue Segment Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Marketing, general and administrative expense Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW [Abstract] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME [Abstract] Stock issuance costs Payments of Stock Issuance Costs Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Income taxes Total current assets Assets, Current Current assets Diluted (in shares) Basic (in shares) Total assets Assets Intangible Assets Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Interest income Investment Income, Interest Stock-Based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Assets Assets Assets [Abstract] Net Investment in Direct Finance Leases [Abstract] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Unearned revenue Storage, handling and other expenses Operating expenses Total operating expenses Operating Expenses Net income per share attributable to CAI common stockholders Earnings per Share [Abstract] Net income before income taxes and non-controlling interest Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Total CAI stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Income tax expense Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Loss on foreign exchange Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax Loss on foreign exchange Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized Container rental equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $116,407 and $109,336 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively Earnings per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net income Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income attributable to non-controlling interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Income taxes payable Comprehensive income Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest Stockholders' equity Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Restricted cash Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: The Company and Nature of Operations Nature of Operations [Text Block] Accounts payable Accrued expenses and other current liabilities The Company and Nature of Operations [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities as a Non-Controlling Interest [Abstract] Segment Information [Abstract] Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activity Weighted average shares outstanding Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Intangible Assets [Abstract] Supplemental reclassification of containers placed in direct financing and sales-type leases. Containers Placed In Direct Financing And Sales Type Leases Transfer of container rental equipment to direct finance lease Cash paid during the period for: [Abstract] Cash paid during the period for: The cash inflow associated with the collection of receivables arising from the lease of containers for a specified time in exchange for payment in the form of rent (includes both direct financing and sales-type leases). Receipt Of Principal Payments On Direct Financing And Sales Type Leases Receipt of principal payments from direct financing leases Net change in lease rentals collected on behalf of and payable to container owners for containers that the Company manages, net of direct expenses and management fees receivable. Increase Decrease In Lease Related Liabilities Due to container investors Depreciation of container rental equipment. Depreciation Of Container Rental Equipment Depreciation of container rental equipment Document and Entity Information [Abstract] The cumulative amount of depreciation (related to other property, plant and equipment, but not including land) that has been recognized in the income statement. Accumulated Depreciation Property Plant And Equipment Other Container rental equipment, net of accumulated depreciation The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the noncurrent portion of an asset-backed long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Long Term Asset Backed Line Of Credit Facility Asset backed warehouse facility Rental equipment payable Rental equipment payable Non-trade accounts receivable carrying amounts due as of the balance sheet date from parties or arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Other Receivables Managed Fleet Accounts receivable (managed fleet)