Nature of Operations and Summary of Accounting Policies Nature of Operations and Summary of Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) store	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2018 USD ($)
Nature of Operations [Abstract]
Number of company-owned stores nationwide and in Puerto Rico | store	1,973
Number of retail installment sales stores | store	44
Number of Preferred Lease Staffed locations | store	998
Number of stores in Mexico | store	123
Number of Franchised stores | store	372
Number of states with Franchised stores	33
Rental merchandise, net [Abstract]
Minimum Period in Held for Rent status needed for depreciation of merchandise	180 days
Maximum Period used for depreciation of Merchandise Held for Rent	18 months
Maximum Period used for depreciation of smartphones Held for Rent	18 months
Minimum Period in Held for Rent status needed for depreciation of smartphones	90 days
Maximum period of past due required to charge off remaining book value of rental merchandise for Rent-A-Center business and Mexico segments	90 days
Maximum period of past due required to charge off remaining book value of rental merchandise for Preferred Lease segment	150 days
Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Abstract]
Minimum Period of Past Due Required to Charge Off installment Notes	120 days
Maximum period in current status allowed to Franchisees for payment of receivables	30 days
Minimum period of past due required to write off receivables from Franchisees	90 days
Major Property Class Useful Life [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 70,217	$ 56,845	$ 56,614
Operating lease right-of-use assets	281,566	0
Operating lease liabilities	$ 285,041	0
Goodwill and Other Intangibles [Abstract]
Amortization period for acquired customer relationships	21 months
Amortization period for vendor relationships minimum	7 years
Amortization period for vendor relationships maximum	15 years
Advertising Costs [Abstract]
Advertising Costs	$ 58,800	74,600	86,100
Vendor Allowances	21,200	17,100	$ 14,400
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Accrued liabilities	(275,777)	(337,459)
Deferred tax liability	$ 163,984	119,061
Change in beginning retained earnings				$ 2,000	$ 1,300
Furniture, equipment and vehicle [Member]
Major Property Class Useful Life [Line Items]
Useful life	5 years
Internally Developed Software [Member]
Major Property Class Useful Life [Line Items]
Useful life	10 years
Rent-A-Center Business [Member]
Major Property Class Useful Life [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 1,500	1,500
Preferred Lease [Member]
Major Property Class Useful Life [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 68,700	$ 55,300
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Accrued liabilities					(1,700)
Deferred tax liability					$ 400