Other (Gains) and Charges Other (Gains) and Charges (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) store	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) store	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) store
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges	$ 7,654	$ 34,719
Cash payment from Vintage settlement	92,500
Proceeds from Vintage settlement	80,000
Proceeds from sale of corporate headquarters	43,200
Gain on sale of corporate headquarters	21,800
Impairment of intangible asset			$ 3,900
Restructuring Reserve	738	12,505	3,779
Restructuring payments	(19,421)	(25,993)
Other (gains) and charges	(60,728)	59,324	59,219
Labor reduction costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges	3,039	13,321
Restructuring Reserve	738	7,623	1,674
Restructuring payments	(9,924)	(7,372)
Capitalized software write-down [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairments		1,200	18,200
Lease obligation costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges	0	11,952
Restructuring Reserve	0	4,882	2,105
Restructuring payments	(4,882)	(9,175)
Contract Termination [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges	0	6,750
Restructuring Reserve	0	0	0
Restructuring payments	0	(6,750)
Other miscellaneous [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges	4,615	2,696
Restructuring Reserve	0	0	0
Restructuring payments	(4,615)	(2,696)
Preferred Lease [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Legal Fees	(1,400)
Cost Savings Initiative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Legal Fees		1,900
Cost Savings Initiative [Member] | Labor reduction costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges	2,600	13,100
Cost Savings Initiative [Member] | Capitalized software write-down [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairments		1,900
Cost Savings Initiative [Member] | Lease obligation costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		3,400
Cost Savings Initiative [Member] | Contract Termination [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		6,800
Cost Savings Initiative [Member] | Other miscellaneous [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges	2,300	2,300
Cost Savings Initiative [Member] | Disposal of fixed assets [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairments	400	1,000
Store Consolidation Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		11,200
Store Consolidation Plan [Member] | Labor reduction costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges	400	200
Store Consolidation Plan [Member] | Lease obligation costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		8,100
Store Consolidation Plan [Member] | Other miscellaneous [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges	2,300	1,300
Store Consolidation Plan [Member] | Disposal of fixed assets [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairments	$ 900	$ 1,600
Store Consolidation Plan [Member] | Rent-A-Center Business [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store	88	138
Store Consolidation Plan [Member] | Mexico [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store		9
2017 Acceptance Now Consolidation Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible asset			3,900
2017 Acceptance Now Consolidation Plan [Member] | Preferred Lease [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Pretax other charges			$ 19,200
2017 Field Support Center Restructuring Plan [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Head count reduction as percent of total workforce			10.00%
2017 Field Support Center Restructuring Plan [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Labor reduction costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges			$ 3,400
Non-Cash Charges [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairments	$ 9,938	$ 6,825
Other	(78,320)	17,160
Rental merchandise losses	0	620
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | Vintage Settlement [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other	92,500
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | Sale of corporate headquarters [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other	21,800
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | Insurance proceeds [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other	1,100
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | Incremental legal and professional fees [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other	21,400	18,400
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | Blair settlement [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other	13,000
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | State tax audit assessments [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other	2,400
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | Other settlements [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other	300	1,100
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | Cost Savings Initiative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairments	4,900
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | Store Consolidation Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairments	$ 3,700
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | 2018 Hurricanes [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other		$ 600
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | 2017 Hurricanes [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other			4,500
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | 2017 Hurricanes [Member] | Hurricane Harvey and Irma [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other			2,100
Non-Cash Charges [Member] | 2017 Hurricanes [Member] | Hurricane Maria [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other			$ 2,400
Staffed Location [Member] | 2017 Acceptance Now Consolidation Plan [Member] | Preferred Lease [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store			319
Virtual Location [Member] | 2017 Acceptance Now Consolidation Plan [Member] | Preferred Lease [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store			9