CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Equipment rentals									$ 4,941	$ 4,949	$ 4,819
Sales of rental equipment									496	538	544
Sales of new equipment									144	157	149
Contractor supplies sales									79	79	85
Service and other revenues									102	94	88
Total revenues	$ 1,523	$ 1,508	$ 1,421	$ 1,310	$ 1,523	$ 1,550	$ 1,429	$ 1,315	5,762	5,817	5,685
Cost of revenues:
Cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation									1,862	1,826	1,806
Depreciation of rental equipment									990	976	921
Cost of rental equipment sales									292	311	315
Cost of new equipment sales									119	131	120
Cost of contractor supplies sales									55	55	59
Cost of service and other revenues									41	38	32
Total cost of revenues									3,359	3,337	3,253
Gross profit	657	656	590	500	648	690	618	524	2,403	2,480	2,432
Selling, general and administrative expenses									719	714	758
Merger related costs									0	(26)	11
Restructuring charge									14	6	(1)
Non-rental depreciation and amortization									255	268	273
Operating income	402	412	347	254	397	446	375	300	1,415	1,518	1,391
Interest expense, net									511	567	555
Other income, net									(5)	(12)	(14)
Income before provision for income taxes									909	963	850
Provision for income taxes									343	378	310
Net income	$ 153	$ 187	$ 134	$ 92	$ 169	$ 215	$ 86	$ 115	$ 566	$ 585	$ 540
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.82	$ 2.18	$ 1.52	$ 1.01	$ 1.82	$ 2.28	$ 0.89	$ 1.19	$ 6.49	$ 6.14	$ 5.54
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.80	$ 2.16	$ 1.52	$ 1.01	$ 1.81	$ 2.25	$ 0.88	$ 1.16	$ 6.45	$ 6.07	$ 5.15