Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 877,639us-gaap_Revenues	$ 828,473us-gaap_Revenues
Gross profit	564,593us-gaap_GrossProfit	562,550us-gaap_GrossProfit
Operating profit	56,598us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	59,458us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles	19,764	19,886
Capital expenditures	14,245	23,108
Rental merchandise on rent, net	950,890rcii_RentalMerchandiseOnRentNet		960,414rcii_RentalMerchandiseOnRentNet
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	266,872rcii_RentalMerchandiseHeldForRentNet		277,442rcii_RentalMerchandiseHeldForRentNet
Assets	3,168,550us-gaap_Assets		3,271,197us-gaap_Assets
Core U.S. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	629,203	636,475
Gross profit	441,140	456,795
Operating profit	67,573	73,462
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles	12,675	13,840
Capital expenditures	814	10,304
Rental merchandise on rent, net	577,269		593,945
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	254,827		264,211
Assets	2,529,100		2,519,770
Acceptance Now [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	224,277	169,234
Gross profit	109,164	92,390
Operating profit	34,532	29,522
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles	753	647
Capital expenditures	283	662
Rental merchandise on rent, net	352,306		345,703
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	6,262		4,897
Assets	428,208		420,660
Mexico [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	17,934	15,857
Gross profit	12,113	11,462
Operating profit	(3,454)	(5,917)
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles	1,474	1,595
Capital expenditures	108	2,095
Rental merchandise on rent, net	21,315		20,766
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	5,783		8,334
Assets	53,666		59,841
Franchising [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	6,225	6,907
Gross profit	2,176	1,903
Operating profit	1,216	606
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles	49	35
Assets	2,966		2,604
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	99,867	97,673
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles	14,951	16,117
Capital expenditures	1,205	13,061
Assets	3,013,940		3,002,875
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	(43,269)	(38,215)
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles	4,813	3,769
Capital expenditures	13,040	10,047
Assets	$ 154,610		$ 268,322

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Rental merchandise held for rent, net.

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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.

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

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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