Income Taxes (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Enacted Tax Rate, Percent			26.70%	33.70%	33.90%
Summary of reasons for difference between GATX's effective income tax rate and federal statutory income tax
Income taxes at federal statutory rate			$ 41.0	$ 75.0	$ 106.9
Adjust for effect of:
Foreign tax credits			(1.4)	0.0	(7.8)
Foreign earnings taxed at lower rates			7.8	(5.5)	(9.7)
Corporate owned life insurance			(1.0)	(0.9)	(1.7)
State income taxes			5.2	(0.5)	6.8
State deferred tax rate change impact				5.0	0.0
Other			(1.0)	(0.9)	1.2
Revaluation of deferred tax liabilities	$ 17.9	$ 315.9	9.4	(371.4)	0.0
Transition tax on foreign earnings and profits			(23.1)	57.2	0.0
Other			(2.8)	(1.7)	0.0
Total Tax Act impact			(16.5)	(315.9)	0.0
Income taxes			$ 34.1	$ (243.7)	$ 95.7
Effective income tax rate			17.50%	(113.70%)	31.30%