SHAREHOLDERS'S EQUITY (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 07, 2013 Warrants on Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Warrants on Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Common Shares [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Common Shares [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Common Shares [Member] Warrants on Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2012 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Retained Earnings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Retained Earnings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)												126,257,870	123,332,444
Beginning balance			$ 1,755,243			$ 1,755,243	$ 1,755,243	$ 1,438,004	$ 1,438,004			$ 692,100	$ 670,749		$ 1,015,209	$ 876,634	$ (46,139)	$ (109,379)	$ 94,073	$ 0
Net income (loss)	32,059	16,108	41,343	[1]	58,367	57,451	89,510	293,993	373,798						90,480	371,896			(970)	1,902
Dividends ($1.86 per share for 2013 and $1.78 per share for 9 months ended 9/30/14)							(225,175)		(233,321)						(225,175)	(233,321)
Contribution to Rayonier Advanced Materials							19,130					(301)			(61,318)		80,749
Adjustments to Rayonier Advanced Materials							(1,571)								985		(2,556)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plan (in shares)												512,364	1,001,426
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans							4,645		10,101			4,645	10,101
Stock-based compensation							6,780		11,710			6,780	11,710
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) on stock-based compensation							(809)		8,413			(809)	8,413
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)												(45,790)	(211,221)
Repurchase of common shares							(1,834)		(11,326)			(1,834)	(11,326)
Equity portion of convertible debt upon redemption									2,453				2,453
Settlement of warrants										97,918	2,037,303			2,135,221
Net gain (loss) from pension and postretirement plans							(14,958)		61,869								(14,958)	61,869
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest									96,336											96,336
Noncontrolling interest redemption of shares							(930)		(713)										(930)	(713)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(37,877)				24,259		(16,426)	(2,967)	(5,710)								(11,770)	(1,915)	(4,656)	(3,795)
Joint venture cash flow hedges	(3,494)				3,433		(2,703)	4,209	3,629								(1,757)	3,286	(946)	343
Ending balance (in shares)												126,724,444	126,257,870
Ending balance	$ 1,610,902						$ 1,610,902		$ 1,755,243			$ 700,581	$ 692,100		$ 820,181	$ 1,015,209	$ 3,569	$ (46,139)	$ 86,571	$ 94,073
Dividends [Abstract]
Dividends per share	$ 0.8				$ 0.49		$ 1.78	$ 1.37	$ 1.86

[1] Includes the Performance Fibers business that was spun-off on June 27, 2014.