Income Taxes Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009		Sep. 30, 2011 Taxability of the alternative fuel mixture credit	Dec. 31, 2011 Taxability of the alternative fuel mixture credit
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Balance at January 1,	$ 22,580,000		$ 17,973,000	$ 3,906,000
Decreases related to prior year tax positions	(16,000,000)	[1]	(1,057,000)	(533,000)
Increases related to current year tax positions	0		5,780,000	16,000,000	[1]
Payments	0		(116,000)	(1,400,000)
Balance at December 31,	6,580,000		22,580,000	17,973,000
Tax benefit recognized for final examination of uncertain tax position						(16,000,000)	(16,000,000)
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Narrative
Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate	2,600,000		18,600,000	18,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would decrease prepaid tax assets	4,000,000
Interest (benefit) expense on unrecognized income tax benefits	(300,000)		(300,000)	300,000
Liabilities for the payment of interest and penalties	$ 200,000		$ 600,000

[1] (a) During 2011, the Company received a final examination report from the IRS regarding its TRS 2009 tax return. As a result, Rayonier reversed the uncertain tax liability recorded in 2009 relating to the taxability of the AFMC and recognized a $16 million tax benefit in the third quarter of 2011.