Earnings Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 53,437		$ 58,412		$ 276,005
Shares used for determining basic earnings per share	122,352,435		121,420,046
Dilutive Effect of:
Stock Options	719,166		715,043
Performance and restricted shares	651,729		697,691
Assumed conversion of Senior Exchangeable Notes	2,967,187	[1],[2]	1,462,679	[1],[2]
Assumed conversion of warrants	1,241,612	[1]	0	[1]
Shares used for determining diluted earnings per common share	127,932,129		124,295,459
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.44		$ 0.48
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.42		$ 0.47
Average Stock Price	$ 45.07		$ 39.71
Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 at a fixed interest rate of 3.75% [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights	$ 41.78
Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2015 at a fixed interest rate of 4.50% [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights	$ 39.85

[1] The higher shares used for determining earnings per common share was primarily due to an increase in the average stock price from $39.71 in first quarter 2011 to $45.07 in first quarter 2012.

[2] 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 prices of $41.78 for the Notes due 2012 and $39.85 for the Notes due 2015. For additional information on the potential dilutive impact of the Senior Exchangeable Notes, warrants and exchangeable note hedges, see Note 11 — Debt in the 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Note 13 — Debt of this Form 10-Q.