CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 99,274	$ 89,660
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(36,755)	(32,664)
Purchase of timberlands	(10,637)	(1,560)
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	0	(36,734)
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business	0	83,741
Change in restricted cash	45,312	9,908
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other	1,592	1,790
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(488)	24,481
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	31,819	100,000
Repayment of debt	(110,000)	(170,000)
Dividends paid	(62,545)	(57,744)
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	2,027	4,091
Excess tax (deficiencies) benefits on stock-based compensation	(1,240)	6,191
Repurchase of common shares	(1,754)	(11,241)
Intercompany distributions	0	0
Other	(679)	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(142,372)	(128,703)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	13	(17)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(43,573)	(14,579)
Balance, beginning of year	199,644	280,596
Balance, end of period	156,071	266,017
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Guarantor) [Member]
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	25,931	13,984
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion		0
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business		0
Change in restricted cash	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	0	0
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	0	100,000
Repayment of debt	0	(150,000)
Dividends paid	(62,545)	(57,744)
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	2,027	4,091
Excess tax (deficiencies) benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	(1,754)	(11,241)
Intercompany distributions	0	0
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(62,272)	(114,894)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(36,341)	(100,910)
Balance, beginning of year	130,181	252,888
Balance, end of period	93,840	151,978
Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2015 at a fixed interest rate of 4.50% [Member] | ROC (Subsidiary Guarantor) [Member]
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	32,794	22,259
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(170)	(89)
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion		0
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business		0
Change in restricted cash	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(170)	(89)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	0	0
Repayment of debt	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax (deficiencies) benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Intercompany distributions	(28,434)	(5,206)
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(28,434)	(5,206)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	4,190	16,964
Balance, beginning of year	304	3,966
Balance, end of period	4,494	20,930
Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2015 at a fixed interest rate of 4.50% [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	0	0
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion		0
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business		0
Change in restricted cash	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	69,103	32,391
Other	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	69,103	32,391
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	30,000	0
Repayment of debt	(110,000)	(20,000)
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax (deficiencies) benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Intercompany distributions	0	0
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(80,000)	(20,000)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(10,897)	12,391
Balance, beginning of year	10,719	19,358
Balance, end of period	(178)	31,749
Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2015 at a fixed interest rate of 4.50% [Member] | Non-guarantors [Member]
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	67,759	58,980
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(36,585)	(32,575)
Purchase of timberlands	(10,637)	(1,560)
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion		(36,734)
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business		83,741
Change in restricted cash	45,312	9,908
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other	1,592	1,790
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(318)	24,570
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	1,819	0
Repayment of debt	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax (deficiencies) benefits on stock-based compensation	(1,240)	6,191
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Intercompany distributions	(67,879)	(32,748)
Other	(679)
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(67,979)	(26,557)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	13	(17)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(525)	56,976
Balance, beginning of year	58,440	4,384
Balance, end of period	57,915	61,360
Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2015 at a fixed interest rate of 4.50% [Member] | Consolidation Adjustments [Member]
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(27,210)	(5,563)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion		0
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business		0
Change in restricted cash	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(69,103)	(32,391)
Other	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(69,103)	(32,391)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	0	0
Repayment of debt	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax (deficiencies) benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Intercompany distributions	96,313	37,954
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	96,313	37,954
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Balance, beginning of year	0	0
Balance, end of period	0	0
Senior Notes due 2022 at a fixed interest rate of 3.75% [Member] | ROC (Subsidiary Guarantor) [Member]
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	32,794	22,259
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(170)	(89)
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion		0
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business		0
Change in restricted cash	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	69,103	32,391
Other	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	68,933	32,302
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	30,000	0
Repayment of debt	(110,000)	(20,000)
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax (deficiencies) benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Intercompany distributions	(28,434)	(5,206)
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(108,434)	(25,206)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(6,707)	29,355
Balance, beginning of year	11,023	23,324
Balance, end of period	4,316	52,679
Senior Notes due 2022 at a fixed interest rate of 3.75% [Member] | Non-guarantors [Member]
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	67,759	58,980
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(36,585)	(32,575)
Purchase of timberlands	(10,637)	(1,560)
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion		(36,734)
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business		83,741
Change in restricted cash	45,312	9,908
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other	1,592	1,790
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(318)	24,570
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	1,819	0
Repayment of debt	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax (deficiencies) benefits on stock-based compensation	(1,240)	6,191
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Intercompany distributions	(67,879)	(32,748)
Other	(679)
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(67,979)	(26,557)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	13	(17)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(525)	56,976
Balance, beginning of year	58,440	4,384
Balance, end of period	57,915	61,360
Senior Notes due 2022 at a fixed interest rate of 3.75% [Member] | Consolidation Adjustments [Member]
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(27,210)	(5,563)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion		0
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business		0
Change in restricted cash	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(69,103)	(32,391)
Other	0	0
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(69,103)	(32,391)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	0	0
Repayment of debt	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax (deficiencies) benefits on stock-based compensation	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Intercompany distributions	96,313	37,954
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	96,313	37,954
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Balance, beginning of year	0	0
Balance, end of period	$ 0	$ 0