SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					$ 1,575,151		$ 1,755,243	$ 1,755,243
Net income (loss)		$ 19,181		$ 32,059	34,501		89,510	97,846
Dividends ($0.75 and $2.03 per share for the nine months ended June 30, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014, respectively)					(94,262)			(256,861)
Contribution to Rayonier Advanced Materials								19,130
Adjustments to Rayonier Advanced Materials					884			(8,226)	[1]
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans					1,322			5,579
Stock-based compensation					3,522			7,869
Tax deficiency on stock-based compensation					(272)			(791)
Repurchase of common shares					(75,973)	[2],[3]		(1,858)
Net gain (loss) from pension and postretirement plans					2,414			(24,147)
Noncontrolling interest redemption of shares								(931)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(13,370)		(37,877)	(53,087)		(16,426)	(15,847)
Cash Flow Hedges		(14,120)		$ (3,494)	(17,983)		$ (2,703)	(1,855)
Ending balance		$ 1,376,217			$ 1,376,217			$ 1,575,151
Dividends [Abstract]
Dividends declared per share		$ 0.25		$ 0.80	$ 0.75		$ 1.78	$ 2.03
Average price of common stock repurchased (in dollars per share)		$ 23.65	$ 25.94
Number of common shares outstanding		123,767,680			123,767,680			126,773,097
Remaining share repurchase authorization amount		$ 24,100			$ 24,100
Common shares, shares issued		123,767,680			123,767,680			126,773,097
Common Shares [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)	[4]				126,773,097		126,257,870	126,257,870
Beginning balance					$ 702,598		$ 692,100	$ 692,100
Contribution to Rayonier Advanced Materials								$ (301)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plan (in shares)	[4]				167,021			561,701
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans					$ 1,322			$ 5,579
Stock-based compensation					3,522			7,869
Tax deficiency on stock-based compensation					$ (272)			$ (791)
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)	[4]				(3,172,438)	[2],[3]		(46,474)
Repurchase of common shares					$ (100)	[2],[3]		$ (1,858)
Ending balance (in shares)	[4]	123,767,680			123,767,680			126,773,097
Ending balance		$ 707,070			$ 707,070			$ 702,598
Retained Earnings [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					790,697		1,015,209	1,015,209
Net income (loss)					35,880			99,337
Dividends ($0.75 and $2.03 per share for the nine months ended June 30, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014, respectively)					(94,262)			(256,861)
Contribution to Rayonier Advanced Materials								(61,318)
Adjustments to Rayonier Advanced Materials					884			(5,670)	[1]
Repurchase of common shares					(75,873)
Ending balance		657,326			657,326			790,697
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					(4,825)		(46,139)	(46,139)
Contribution to Rayonier Advanced Materials								80,749
Adjustments to Rayonier Advanced Materials	[1]							(2,556)
Net gain (loss) from pension and postretirement plans					2,414			(24,147)
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(37,101)			(11,526)
Cash Flow Hedges					(16,464)			(1,206)
Ending balance		(55,976)			(55,976)			(4,825)
Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					86,681		$ 94,073	94,073
Net income (loss)					(1,379)			(1,491)
Noncontrolling interest redemption of shares								(931)
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(15,986)			(4,321)
Cash Flow Hedges					(1,519)			(649)
Ending balance		67,797			67,797			$ 86,681
Common Shares [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Repurchase of common shares		(65,200)	$ (10,700)
Dividends [Abstract]
Common Stock, Purchased from Employees in Non-open Market Transactions		$ 100			$ 100
NORTH CAROLINA [Member]
Dividends [Abstract]
Par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0			$ 0

[1] Primarily relates to adjustments made to the Rayonier Advanced Materials contribution as income taxes and pension and postretirement plan assets and obligations were finalized.

[2] During the second and third quarter of 2015 the Company repurchased approximately $10.7 million and $65.2 million, respectively of common stock at average prices of $25.94 and $23.65 per share. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had 123.8 million shares of common stock outstanding and $24.1 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization announced in June 2015.

[3] Includes $0.1 million of shares of the Company’s common stock purchased from employees in non-open market transactions. The shares of stock were sold by current and former employees of the Company in exchange for cash that was used to pay withholding taxes associated with the vesting of restricted stock awards under the Company’s stock incentive plan. The price per share surrendered is based on the closing price of the company’s stock on the respective vesting dates of the awards.

[4] The Company’s common shares are registered in North Carolina and have a $0.00 par value.