Earnings Per Common Share Schedule of Antidilutive Shares (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	2,057,548		308,421		1,449,029
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	161,786		308,421		1,449,029
Contingently Issuable Shares [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	1,895,762	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]

[1] Upon maturity of the Senior Exchangeable Notes (the "Notes"), Rayonier will not issue additional shares for the Notes due to the offsetting exchangeable note hedges (the "hedges"). However, Accounting Standards Codification 260, Earnings Per Share requires the assumed conversion of the Notes to be included in dilutive shares if the average stock price for the period exceeds the strike prices, while the assumed conversion of the hedges are excluded since they are anti-dilutive. Rayonier will distribute additional shares upon maturity of the warrants if the stock price exceeds the strike price. For additional information on the potential dilutive impact of the Senior Exchangeable Notes, warrants and exchangeable note hedges, see Note 11 — Debt.