Shareholders' Equity Schedule of Stockholders Equity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended				6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2013 Warrants on Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Warrants on Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Common Shares [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Common Shares [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Common Shares [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Common Shares [Member] Warrants on Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Retained Earnings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Retained Earnings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Retained Earnings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Non-controlling Interest [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-controlling Interest [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance (in shares)																123,332,444	122,035,177	121,023,140
Total stockholders' equity, beginning balance				$ 1,438,004					$ 1,323,073	$ 1,438,004		$ 1,323,073	$ 1,251,582			$ 670,749	$ 630,286	$ 602,882		$ 876,634	$ 806,235	$ 717,058	$ (109,379)	$ (113,448)	$ (68,358)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest										96,336																96,336
Noncontrolling interest redemption of shares										(713)																(713)
Net income	79,805	58,367	87,891	147,735	[1]	75,609	80,560	69,079	53,437	373,798	[1]	278,685	276,005							371,896	278,685	276,005				(1,902)
Dividends ($1.52, $1.68 and $1.86 per share in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively)										(233,321)		(208,286)	(186,828)							(233,321)	(208,286)	(186,828)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, (in shares)																1,001,426	1,467,024	1,220,731
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans										10,101		25,495	13,451			10,101	25,495	13,451
Stock-based compensation										11,710		15,116	16,181			11,710	15,116	16,181
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation										8,413		7,635	5,681			8,413	7,635	5,681
Repurchase of common shares, (in shares)																(211,221)	(169,757)	(208,694)
Repurchase of common shares										(11,326)		(7,783)	(7,909)			(11,326)	(7,783)	(7,909)
Equity portion of convertible debt (Note 13)										2,453						2,453
Settlement of warrants (Note 13) (in shares)														2,135,221	2,135,221				2,135,221
Net loss from pension and postretirement plans, total										61,869		(496)	(46,263)										61,869	(496)	(46,263)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, total										(5,710)		4,352	3,546										(1,915)	4,352	3,546	3,795
Joint venture cash flow hedges, total										3,629		213	(2,373)										3,286	213	(2,373)	343
Stockholders' equity, ending balance (in shares)																126,257,870	123,332,444	122,035,177
Shareholders' equity attributable to parent, ending balance	1,661,170					1,438,004				1,661,170		1,438,004
Total stockholders' equity, ending balance	$ 1,755,243					$ 1,438,004				$ 1,755,243		$ 1,438,004	$ 1,323,073			$ 692,100	$ 670,749	$ 630,286		$ 1,015,209	$ 876,634	$ 806,235	$ (46,139)	$ (109,379)	$ (113,448)	$ 94,073	$ 0	$ 0
Dividends [Abstract]
Dividends per share										$ 1.86		$ 1.68	$ 1.52

[1] Net income and net income attributable to Rayonier Inc. included a $43 million gain on the sale of Wood Products for the quarter ended March 31, 2013.