Segments - Information on Segments and Reconciliation to Earnings Before Income Taxes from Continuing Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 884,627	$ 838,883	$ 815,644	$ 844,554	$ 794,954	$ 768,982	$ 789,353	$ 854,427	$ 3,383,708	$ 3,207,716	$ 3,179,756
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Tax (Benefit) Expense:	60,738	$ 39,221	$ 56,995	$ 82,623	32,288	$ 45,282	$ 61,124	$ 79,728	239,577	218,422	213,120
Assets:	2,692,264				2,615,736				2,692,264	2,615,736
Depreciation and Amortization									82,572	82,378	80,203
Interest Expense:									20,538	23,390	23,339
Capital Expenditures:									57,973	57,453	60,557
Operating Segments | Progressive Leasing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,566,413	1,237,597	1,049,681
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Tax (Benefit) Expense:									140,224	104,686	54,525
Assets:	1,022,413				919,487				1,022,413	919,487
Depreciation and Amortization									29,048	30,727	28,870
Interest Expense:									18,577	20,042	21,959
Capital Expenditures:									8,213	6,084	8,175
Operating Segments | DAMI
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									34,925	24,080	2,845
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Tax (Benefit) Expense:									(11,289)	(9,273)	(1,964)
Assets:	108,306				102,958				108,306	102,958
Depreciation and Amortization									1,273	993	218
Interest Expense:									4,327	4,116	764
Capital Expenditures:									1,425	787	40
Operating Segments | Manufacturing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Inventory, including raw materials and work-in-process	16,300				14,300				16,300	14,300
Operating Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets:	300,311				394,078				300,311	394,078
Operating Segments | Aaron's Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,782,370	1,946,039	2,127,230
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Tax (Benefit) Expense:									110,642	123,009	160,559
Assets:	1,261,234				1,199,213				1,261,234	1,199,213
Depreciation and Amortization									52,251	50,658	51,115
Interest Expense:									(2,366)	(768)	616
Capital Expenditures:									48,335	50,582	52,342
Operating Segments | Canada Operations | Aaron's Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									18,256	12,434	$ 3,431
Assets:	$ 20,223				$ 17,199				$ 20,223	$ 17,199