Document and Entity Information Document - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 21, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38047
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	45-0491516
Entity Address, Address Line One	5501 Headquarters Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Plano
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	75024
City Area Code	972
Local Phone Number	801-1100
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	RCII
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
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			$ 1,300,353,876
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		55,230,574
Documents Incorporated by Reference [Text Block]	Portions of the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Rent-A-Center, Inc. are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
Entity Registrant Name	RENT A CENTER INC DE
Entity Central Index Key	0000933036
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Public Float Shares			48,830,414