CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Equipment rentals									$ 5,715	$ 4,941	$ 4,949
Service and other revenues									118	102	94
Total revenues	$ 1,922	$ 1,766	$ 1,597	$ 1,356	$ 1,523	$ 1,508	$ 1,421	$ 1,310	6,641	5,762	5,817
Cost of revenues:
Cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation									2,151	1,862	1,826
Depreciation of rental equipment									1,124	990	976
Cost of service and other revenues									59	41	38
Total cost of revenues									3,872	3,359	3,337
Gross profit	827	773	655	514	657	656	590	500	2,769	2,403	2,480
Selling, general and administrative expenses									903	719	714
Merger related costs	18								50	0	(26)
Restructuring charge	22								50	14	6
Non-rental depreciation and amortization									259	255	268
Operating income	462	448	340	257	402	412	347	254	1,507	1,415	1,518
Interest expense, net									464	511	567
Other income, net									(5)	(5)	(12)
Income before (benefit) provision for income taxes									1,048	909	963
(Benefit) provision for income taxes (note 13)									(298)	343	378
Net income	$ 897	$ 199	$ 141	$ 109	$ 153	$ 187	$ 134	$ 92	$ 1,346	$ 566	$ 585
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 10.60	$ 2.36	$ 1.67	$ 1.29	$ 1.82	$ 2.18	$ 1.52	$ 1.01	$ 15.91	$ 6.49	$ 6.14
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 10.45	$ 2.33	$ 1.65	$ 1.27	$ 1.80	$ 2.16	$ 1.52	$ 1.01	$ 15.73	$ 6.45	$ 6.07
Rental Equipment
Revenues:
Sales revenue									$ 550	$ 496	$ 538
Cost of revenues:
Cost of goods sold									330	292	311
New Equipment
Revenues:
Sales revenue									178	144	157
Cost of revenues:
Cost of goods sold									152	119	131
Contractor Supplies
Revenues:
Sales revenue									80	79	79
Cost of revenues:
Cost of goods sold									$ 56	$ 55	$ 55