CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 280,729	$ 334,236
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(105,658)	(122,099)
Purchase of additional interest in New Zealand joint venture	0	(139,879)
Purchase of timberlands	(93,189)	(11,650)
Intercompany purchase of real estate		0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion	0	(137,392)
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business	0	68,063
Change in restricted cash	47,318	3,989
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other	(478)	(224)
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(152,007)	(339,192)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	1,295,163	607,885
Repayment of debt	(1,173,049)	(453,463)
Dividends paid	(225,877)	(175,079)
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	4,645	9,205
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation	0	8,189
Debt issuance costs	(12,380)	0
Repurchase of common shares	(1,834)	(11,303)
Purchase of timberland deeds for Rayonier Advanced Materials	(12,677)	0
Debt issuance funds distributed to Rayonier Advanced Materials	(924,943)	0
Proceeds from spin-off of Rayonier Advanced Materials	906,200	0
Change in restricted cash reserved for dividends	0
Issuance of intercompany notes	0	0
Intercompany distributions	0	0
Other	(680)	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(145,432)	(14,566)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	(103)	(336)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(16,813)	(19,858)
Balance, beginning of year	199,644	280,596
Balance, end of period	182,831	260,738
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Guarantor) [Member]
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	219,988	389,405
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0
Purchase of additional interest in New Zealand joint venture		0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Intercompany purchase of real estate		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	(138,178)
Other	0	0
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES	0	(138,178)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	0	175,000
Repayment of debt	0	(325,000)
Dividends paid	(225,877)	(175,079)
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	4,645	9,205
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation		0
Debt issuance costs	0
Repurchase of common shares	(1,834)	(11,303)
Purchase of timberland deeds for Rayonier Advanced Materials	(12,677)
Debt issuance funds distributed to Rayonier Advanced Materials	(924,943)
Proceeds from spin-off of Rayonier Advanced Materials	906,200
Change in restricted cash reserved for dividends	0
Issuance of intercompany notes	(11,400)	(4,000)
Intercompany distributions	0	0
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(265,886)	(331,177)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(45,898)	(79,950)
Balance, beginning of year	130,181	252,888
Balance, end of period	84,283	172,938
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	238,010	394,700
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(400)	(335)
Purchase of additional interest in New Zealand joint venture		0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Intercompany purchase of real estate		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	(138,178)
Other	0	1,701
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(400)	(136,812)
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 benefits on stock-based compensation		0
Debt issuance costs	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Purchase of timberland deeds for Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Debt issuance funds distributed to Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Proceeds from spin-off of Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Change in restricted cash reserved for dividends	0
Issuance of intercompany notes	0
Intercompany distributions	(234,659)	(256,921)
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(234,659)	(256,921)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	2,951	967
Balance, beginning of year	304	3,966
Balance, end of period	3,255	4,933
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	84,000
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0
Purchase of additional interest in New Zealand joint venture		0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Intercompany purchase of real estate		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	855,014	(316,836)
Other	0	0
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES	855,014	(316,836)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	185,000	375,000
Repayment of debt	(1,002,500)	(56,527)
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation		0
Debt issuance costs	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Purchase of timberland deeds for Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Debt issuance funds distributed to Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Proceeds from spin-off of Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Change in restricted cash reserved for dividends	0
Issuance of intercompany notes	0	0
Intercompany distributions	0	(84,000)
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(817,500)	234,473
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	37,514	1,637
Balance, beginning of year	10,719	19,358
Balance, end of period	48,233	20,995
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	54,461	291,478
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(105,258)	(121,764)
Purchase of additional interest in New Zealand joint venture		(139,879)
Purchase of timberlands	(93,189)	(11,650)
Intercompany purchase of real estate		0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion		(137,392)
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business		68,063
Change in restricted cash	47,318	3,989
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other	(478)	(1,925)
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(151,607)	(340,558)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	1,110,163	57,885
Repayment of debt	(170,549)	(71,936)
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation		8,189
Debt issuance costs	(12,380)
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Purchase of timberland deeds for Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Debt issuance funds distributed to Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Proceeds from spin-off of Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Change in restricted cash reserved for dividends	0
Issuance of intercompany notes	11,400	4,000
Intercompany distributions	(852,085)	108,766
Other	(680)
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	85,869	106,904
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	(103)	(336)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(11,380)	57,488
Balance, beginning of year	58,440	4,384
Balance, end of period	47,060	61,872
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	(231,730)	(825,347)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0
Purchase of additional interest in New Zealand joint venture		0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Intercompany purchase of real estate		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	(855,014)	593,192
Other	0	0
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(855,014)	593,192
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 benefits on stock-based compensation		0
Debt issuance costs	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Purchase of timberland deeds for Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Debt issuance funds distributed to Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Proceeds from spin-off of Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Change in restricted cash reserved for dividends	0
Issuance of intercompany notes	0	0
Intercompany distributions	1,086,744	232,155
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	1,086,744	232,155
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	238,010	394,700
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(400)	(335)
Purchase of additional interest in New Zealand joint venture		0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Intercompany purchase of real estate		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	855,014	(455,014)
Other	0	1,701
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES	854,614	(453,648)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	185,000	375,000
Repayment of debt	(1,002,500)	(56,527)
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation		0
Debt issuance costs	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Purchase of timberland deeds for Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Debt issuance funds distributed to Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Proceeds from spin-off of Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Change in restricted cash reserved for dividends	0
Issuance of intercompany notes	0	0
Intercompany distributions	(234,659)	(256,921)
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(1,052,159)	61,552
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	40,465	2,604
Balance, beginning of year	11,023	23,324
Balance, end of period	51,488	25,928
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	54,461	291,478
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(105,258)	(121,764)
Purchase of additional interest in New Zealand joint venture		(139,879)
Purchase of timberlands	(93,189)	(11,650)
Intercompany purchase of real estate		0
Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion		(137,392)
Proceeds from the disposition of Wood Products business		68,063
Change in restricted cash	47,318	3,989
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other	(478)	(1,925)
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(151,607)	(340,558)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt	1,110,163	57,885
Repayment of debt	(170,549)	(71,936)
Dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation		8,189
Debt issuance costs	(12,380)
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Purchase of timberland deeds for Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Debt issuance funds distributed to Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Proceeds from spin-off of Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Change in restricted cash reserved for dividends	0
Issuance of intercompany notes	11,400	4,000
Intercompany distributions	(852,085)	108,766
Other	(680)
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	85,869	106,904
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	(103)	(336)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(11,380)	57,488
Balance, beginning of year	58,440	4,384
Balance, end of period	47,060	61,872
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	(231,730)	(741,347)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	0	0
Purchase of additional interest in New Zealand joint venture		0
Purchase of timberlands	0	0
Intercompany purchase of real estate		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	(855,014)	593,192
Other	0	0
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(855,014)	593,192
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 benefits on stock-based compensation		0
Debt issuance costs	0
Repurchase of common shares	0	0
Purchase of timberland deeds for Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Debt issuance funds distributed to Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Proceeds from spin-off of Rayonier Advanced Materials	0
Change in restricted cash reserved for dividends	0
Issuance of intercompany notes	0	0
Intercompany distributions	1,086,744	148,155
Other	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES	1,086,744	148,155
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