Acquisitions (Pro Forma Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 3,285	$ 2,524
Pro forma revenues		2,727
Pretax income	$ 594	483
Pro forma pretax income		408
Impact of fair value mark-ups/useful life changes on depreciation
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Pro forma pretax income		(25)
Impact of the fair value mark-up of acquired fleet on cost of rental equipment sales
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Pro forma pretax income		(10)
Intangible asset amortization
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Pro forma pretax income		(21)
Interest expense
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Pro forma pretax income		(25)
Elimination of historic interest
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Pro forma pretax income		13
Elimination of historic legal and financing costs
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Pro forma pretax income		2
United Rentals and Ahern Rentals
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Pretax income		474
United Rentals
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Revenues		2,524
Pretax income		483
Ahern Rentals
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Revenues		203
Pretax income		$ (9)

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes

No definition available.

Name:	uri_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaIncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeProvisionBenefitForIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	uri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaInformationNonrecurringAdjustmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(3)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations, including income (loss) from equity method investments, before deduction of income tax expense (benefit), and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e8933-108599

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 30
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e8906-108599

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e8933-108599

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 940
-SubTopic 20
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126941158&loc=d3e41242-110953

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(10))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126953954&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 7: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(8))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400993&loc=SL114874131-224263

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 235
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-05(b)(2))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120399901&loc=d3e537907-122884

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 31
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e8924-108599

Reference 10: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(15))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120399700&loc=SL114874048-224260

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123596393&loc=d3e14064-108612

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e8933-108599

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e8933-108599

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (SX 210.13-02(a)(4)(iv))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126975872&loc=SL124442552-122756

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (SX 210.13-01(a)(4)(iv))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126975872&loc=SL124442526-122756

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (SX 210.13-02(a)(4)(iii)(A))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126975872&loc=SL124442552-122756

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 40
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e9031-108599

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (SX 210.13-01(a)(4)(i))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126975872&loc=SL124442526-122756

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (SX 210.13-02(a)(4)(i))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126975872&loc=SL124442552-122756

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 30
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e8906-108599

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (SX 210.13-02(a)(5))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126975872&loc=SL124442552-122756

Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 41
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e9038-108599

Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (SX 210.13-01(a)(4)(iii)(A))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126975872&loc=SL124442526-122756

Reference 17: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (SX 210.13-01(a)(5))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126975872&loc=SL124442526-122756

Reference 18: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 42
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126901519&loc=d3e9054-108599

Reference 19: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(g)(1)(ii))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395691&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 20: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 235
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-05(b)(2))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120399901&loc=d3e537907-122884

Reference 21: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (SX 210.13-02(a)(4)(iii)(B))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126975872&loc=SL124442552-122756

Reference 22: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (SX 210.13-01(a)(4)(ii))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126975872&loc=SL124442526-122756

Reference 23: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(1))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126953954&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonrecurringAdjustmentAxis=uri_FairValueChangeAndUsefulLifeChangeInDepreciationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonrecurringAdjustmentAxis=uri_FairValueChangeOfAcquiredRentalEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonrecurringAdjustmentAxis=uri_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonrecurringAdjustmentAxis=us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonrecurringAdjustmentAxis=uri_EliminationOfPreviousInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonrecurringAdjustmentAxis=uri_EliminationOfLegalAndFinancingCostsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=uri_UnitedRentalsAndAhernRentalsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=uri_UnitedRentalsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=uri_AhernRentalsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: