Segments - Information on Segments and Reconciliation to Earnings Before Income Taxes from Continuing Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 838,883	$ 768,982	$ 2,499,081	$ 2,412,762
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		39,221	45,282	178,839	186,134
Assets		2,595,004		2,595,004		$ 2,615,736
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		838,883	768,982	2,499,081	2,412,762
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		39,221	45,282	178,839	186,134
Operating Segments | Progressive Leasing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		398,282	308,397	1,137,896	913,636
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		27,734	24,655	101,732	75,652
Assets		969,220		969,220		919,487
Operating Segments | Aaron's Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		431,665	454,105	1,335,516	1,482,581
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	[1]	15,484	23,151	85,564	118,168
Assets	[2]	1,248,847		1,248,847		1,199,213
Operating Segments | DAMI
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		8,936	6,480	25,669	16,545
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		(3,997)	$ (2,524)	(8,457)	$ (7,686)
Assets		104,267		104,267		102,958
Operating Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		$ 272,670		$ 272,670		$ 394,078

[1] Earnings before income taxes for the Aaron's Business during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 includes restructuring charges of $14.4 million related to store contractual lease obligations, severance costs and impairment charges in connection with the Company's strategic decision to close Company-operated stores, of which $0.8 million was incurred during the three months ended September 30, 2017.Earnings before income taxes for the Aaron's Business during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were impacted by: (1) a gain of $11.1 million on the January 29, 2016 sale of the Company's corporate office building; (2) a loss of $5.6 million related to exiting the HomeSmart business and the write-down of the HomeSmart disposal group to its fair value less cost to sell upon its classification as held for sale; and (3) charges of $3.7 million primarily related to the retirement of the Company's former Chief Financial Officer.

[2] Includes inventory (principally raw materials and work-in-process) that has been classified within lease merchandise in the condensed consolidated balance sheets of $18.7 million and $14.3 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.