Document and Entity Information Document - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 19, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	RENT A CENTER INC DE
Entity Central Index Key	0000933036
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 607,503,983
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		53,978,616
Trading Symbol	RCII