Condensed Consolidating Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 168		$ 175		$ 125	$ 106
Accounts receivable, net	941		804
Intercompany receivable (payable)	0		0
Inventory	112		70
Prepaid expenses and other assets	64		53
Deferred taxes	93		260
Total current assets	1,378		1,362
Rental equipment, net	6,146		5,374
Property and equipment, net	423		421
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Goodwill	3,270	[1]	2,953	[1]
Other intangible assets, net	1,165		1,018
Other long-term assets	101		103
Total assets	12,483		11,231
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt	618	[2]	604	[2]
Accounts payable	505		292
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	572		390
Total current liabilities	1,695		1,286
Long-term debt	7,477		6,569
Deferred taxes	1,412		1,459
Other long-term liabilities	83		69
Total liabilities	10,667		9,383
Temporary equity	3		20
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	1,813		1,828
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	12,483		11,231
Parent
Condensed Financial Information Other Details [Abstract]
Ownership percentage in subsidiaries	100.00%
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0		0
Intercompany receivable (payable)	314		308
Inventory	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0		0
Deferred taxes	0		0
Total current assets	314		308
Rental equipment, net	0		0
Property and equipment, net	45		48
Investments in subsidiaries	1,510		1,648
Goodwill	0		0
Other intangible assets, net	0		0
Other long-term assets	0		2
Total assets	1,869		2,006
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt	31		136
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0		1
Total current liabilities	31		137
Long-term debt	0		0
Deferred taxes	22		21
Other long-term liabilities	0		0
Total liabilities	53		158
Temporary equity	3		20
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	1,813		1,828
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,869		2,006
URNA
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	39		17		16	20
Accounts receivable, net	36		36
Intercompany receivable (payable)	(244)		(257)
Inventory	100		62
Prepaid expenses and other assets	46		42
Deferred taxes	91		258
Total current assets	68		158
Rental equipment, net	5,515		4,768
Property and equipment, net	314		313
Investments in subsidiaries	1,174		1,132
Goodwill	2,990		2,708
Other intangible assets, net	1,061		931
Other long-term assets	101		100
Total assets	11,223		10,110
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt	37		38
Accounts payable	447		254
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	503		327
Total current liabilities	987		619
Long-term debt	7,336		6,421
Deferred taxes	1,310		1,357
Other long-term liabilities	80		65
Total liabilities	9,713		8,462
Temporary equity	0		0
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	1,510		1,648
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	11,223		10,110
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Information Other Details [Abstract]
Ownership percentage in subsidiaries	100.00%
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0		0
Intercompany receivable (payable)	(59)		(51)
Inventory	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other assets	1		1
Deferred taxes	0		0
Total current assets	(58)		(50)
Rental equipment, net	0		0
Property and equipment, net	21		20
Investments in subsidiaries	1,021		997
Goodwill	0		0
Other intangible assets, net	0		0
Other long-term assets	0		0
Total assets	984		967
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt	0		0
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	19		25
Total current liabilities	19		25
Long-term debt	134		140
Deferred taxes	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	0		0
Total liabilities	153		165
Temporary equity	0		0
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	831		802
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	984		967
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries - Foreign
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	129		158		109	86
Accounts receivable, net	142		140
Intercompany receivable (payable)	(141)		(132)
Inventory	12		8
Prepaid expenses and other assets	17		10
Deferred taxes	2		2
Total current assets	161		186
Rental equipment, net	631		606
Property and equipment, net	43		40
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Goodwill	280		245
Other intangible assets, net	104		87
Other long-term assets	0		0
Total assets	1,219		1,164
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt	0		0
Accounts payable	58		38
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	50		36
Total current liabilities	108		74
Long-term debt	7		8
Deferred taxes	80		81
Other long-term liabilities	3		4
Total liabilities	198		167
Temporary equity	0		0
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	1,021		997
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,219		1,164
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries - SPV
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0	0
Accounts receivable, net	763		628
Intercompany receivable (payable)	0		0
Inventory	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0		0
Deferred taxes	0		0
Total current assets	763		628
Rental equipment, net	0		0
Property and equipment, net	0		0
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Other intangible assets, net	0		0
Other long-term assets	0		1
Total assets	763		629
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt	550		430
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0		1
Total current liabilities	550		431
Long-term debt	0		0
Deferred taxes	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	0		0
Total liabilities	550		431
Temporary equity	0		0
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	213		198
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	763		629
10 1/4 percent Senior Notes
Condensed Financial Information Other Details [Abstract]
Stated interest rate	10.25%
8 1/4 percent Senior Notes
Condensed Financial Information Other Details [Abstract]
Stated interest rate	8.25%
ABL Facility, Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, and Other Agreements | URNA
Condensed Financial Information Other Details [Abstract]
Line of credit facility, restricted payment capacity	369
Eliminations
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0		0
Intercompany receivable (payable)	130		132
Inventory	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0		0
Deferred taxes	0		0
Total current assets	130		132
Rental equipment, net	0		0
Property and equipment, net	0		0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,705)		(3,777)
Goodwill	0		0
Other intangible assets, net	0		0
Other long-term assets	0		0
Total assets	(3,575)		(3,645)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt	0		0
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0		0
Total current liabilities	0		0
Long-term debt	0		0
Deferred taxes	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	0		0
Total liabilities	0		0
Temporary equity	0		0
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	(3,575)		(3,645)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (3,575)		$ (3,645)

[1] The total carrying amount of goodwill for all periods in the table above is reflected net of $1,557 of accumulated impairment charges, which were primarily recorded in our general rentals segment.

[2] As of September 30, 2014, our short-term debt primarily reflects $550 of borrowings under our accounts receivable securitization facility and $31 of 4 percent Convertible Senior Notes. The 4 percent Convertible Senior Notes mature in November 2015, but are reflected as short-term debt because they were redeemable at September 30, 2014.