Discontinued Operations - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2014 USD ($) company shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) T	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 01, 2013 USD ($) lumber_mill
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rayonier Advanced Materials debt		$ 833,879	$ 751,555
Restricted cash received (paid)		16,836	(62,256)	$ 58,385
Payments of dividends	$ 63,200	$ 124,936	$ 257,517	237,016
Annual number of tons of hardwood that can be provided to former subsidiary | T		120,000
Performance Fibers business
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
Rayonier Advanced Materials debt	950,000
Restricted cash received (paid)	(75,000)
Performance Fibers business | Senior Notes
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rayonier Advanced Materials debt	550,000
Performance Fibers business | Medium-term Notes
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rayonier Advanced Materials debt	325,000
Performance Fibers business | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rayonier Advanced Materials debt	$ 75,000
Performance Fibers business | Common Stock
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
Wood Products business
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of lumber mills sold | lumber_mill					3
Base consideration received				80,000	$ 80,000
Gain on disposal of discontinued operation, net of tax				42,100
Wood Products business | Pension Benefits
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Recognized net loss due to settlements				$ 500