v3.8.0.1

Segments - Information on Segments and Reconciliation to Earnings Before Income Taxes from Continuing Operations- Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Charges | $ 845 | $ 4,658 | $ 14,617 | $ 4,658 |
Retirement benefits expense |  |  |  | 3,700 |
Operating Segments |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Charges | 845 |  | 14,617 |  |
Operating Segments | Aaron's Business |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Charges | 819 |  | 14,353 |  |
Inventory (principally raw materials and work-in-process) | 18,700 |  | 18,700 |  | $ 14,300
Building | Operating Segments | Aaron's Business |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of corporate office building |  |  |  | 11,100 |
Restructuring Program 2016 |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Charges | (100) |  | 13,700 |  |
Restructuring Program 2016 | Operating Segments | Aaron's Business |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Charges | $ 800 |  | $ 14,400 |  |
Other operating expense (income), net | Building |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of corporate office building |  |  |  | 11,100 |
Other operating expense (income), net | HomeSmart | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Loss on disposal |  |  |  | $ 5,600 |

X
- Definition Inventory, Raw Materials and Work-In-Process + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aan_InventoryRawMaterialsandWorkInProcess
Namespace Prefix: | aan_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Retirement Benefits Expense + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aan_RetirementBenefitsExpense
Namespace Prefix: | aan_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before tax of gain (loss) recognized on the sale or disposal of a disposal group. Excludes discontinued operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2443-110228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176398&loc=d3e2941-110230 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, excluding oil and gas property and timber property. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=d3e1361-107760 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176398&loc=d3e2941-110230 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=aan_AaronsBusinessMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=aan_RestructuringProgram2016Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncomeExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=aan_HomeSmartMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |