DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2014 USD ($) company shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) T	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rayonier Advanced Materials debt		$ 791,233
Change in restricted cash		(17,835)	$ 47,318
Payments of dividends	$ 63,200	$ 94,280	$ 225,877
Annual number of tons of hardwood that can be provided to former subsidiary | T		120,000
Performance Fibers business [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of post-spin companies | company	2
Cash distribution from former subsidiary	$ 906,200
Change in restricted cash	75,000
Performance Fibers business [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rayonier Advanced Materials debt	550,000
Performance Fibers business [Member] | Term Loans [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rayonier Advanced Materials debt	325,000
Performance Fibers business [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rayonier Advanced Materials debt	$ 75,000
Performance Fibers business [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of Rayonier Advanced Materials shares for every three Rayonier shares | shares	1
Number of Rayonier shares for issuance of one Rayonier Advanced Materials share | shares	3