Franchising of Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership Stores - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Entity	Dec. 31, 2010 Entity	Dec. 31, 2009
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Franchises granted	943	946
Franchise agreement fee revenue	$ 2,600,000	$ 3,000,000	$ 3,800,000
Royalty Revenue	52,000,000	47,900,000	42,300,000
Deferred franchise and area development agreement fees	4,700,000	5,500,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	52	14	29
Sales and Lease Ownership
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	38	30	44
Sales and Lease Ownership | Franchise
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	7	12	19
Sales and Lease Ownership | Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	8	14	29
HomeSmart
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	47
HomeSmart | Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	44
Minimum
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Non-refundable initial franchise fee	15,000
Percentage of royalty of gross revenue	5.00%
Maximum
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Non-refundable initial franchise fee	$ 50,000
Percentage of royalty of gross revenue	6.00%