Number of persons employed by the Entity

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
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- Definition

Total revenue reported by the acquired entity for its previous full fiscal year before the business acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of stores.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(13))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(14))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(8))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=uri_NESRentalsHoldingsIIInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=uri_ProposedMergerwithNESRentalsHoldingsIIInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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Subsequent Events (Details) $ in Millions		5 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Details) $ in Millions	Jan. 25, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) employee branch	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Rental Equipment
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Rental assets			$ 6,189	$ 6,186
NES Rentals Holdings II, Inc.
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of branch locations \| branch			73
Number of entity employees \| employee			1,100
NES Rentals Holdings II, Inc. \| Rental Equipment
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Rental assets			$ 900
Proposed Merger with NES Rentals Holdings II, Inc. \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 369
Proposed Merger with NES Rentals Holdings II, Inc. \| Scenario, Forecast \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Aggregate merger consideration paid		$ 965