Revenues Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Rentals and fees	$ 534,737	$ 551,680	$ 1,102,737	$ 1,115,034
Merchandise sales	108,080	70,842	209,460	175,312
Installment sales	17,643	17,270	32,390	32,706
Other	775	1,244	1,497	1,908
Total store revenues	661,235	641,036	1,346,084	1,324,960
Merchandise sales	18,047	10,673	30,484	19,129
Royalty income and fees	4,464	4,216	9,117	8,530
Total revenues	683,746	655,925	1,385,685	1,352,619
Rental purchase agreements [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	42,500		42,500		$ 39,900
Other product plans [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	2,900		2,900		2,900
Franchise fees [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,200		4,200		$ 4,500
Rent-A-Center Business [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Rentals and fees	385,338	399,799	778,503	807,379
Merchandise sales	55,741	32,935	102,428	83,493
Installment sales	17,643	17,270	32,390	32,706
Other	470	1,092	836	1,575
Total store revenues	459,192	451,096	914,157	925,153
Merchandise sales	0	0	0	0
Royalty income and fees	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	459,192	451,096	914,157	925,153
Preferred Lease [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Rentals and fees	139,440	139,104	301,438	282,297
Merchandise sales	51,690	37,140	105,678	90,296
Installment sales	0	0	0	0
Other	113	145	254	318
Total store revenues	191,243	176,389	407,370	372,911
Merchandise sales	0	0	0	0
Royalty income and fees	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	191,243	176,389	407,370	372,911
Mexico [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Rentals and fees	9,959	12,777	22,796	25,358
Merchandise sales	649	767	1,354	1,523
Installment sales	0	0	0	0
Other	3	7	7	15
Total store revenues	10,611	13,551	24,157	26,896
Merchandise sales	0	0	0	0
Royalty income and fees	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	10,611	13,551	24,157	26,896
Franchising [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Rentals and fees	0	0	0	0
Merchandise sales	0	0	0	0
Installment sales	0	0	0	0
Other	189	0	400	0
Total store revenues	189	0	400	0
Merchandise sales	18,047	10,673	30,484	19,129
Royalty income and fees	4,464	4,216	9,117	8,530
Total revenues	$ 22,700	$ 14,889	$ 40,001	$ 27,659