Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Shares	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)	Non-controlling Interest
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		123,332,444
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,438,004	$ 670,749	$ 876,634	$ (109,379)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	373,798		371,896		1,902
Dividends	(233,321)		(233,321)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, (in shares)		1,001,426
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans	10,101	$ 10,101
Stock-based compensation	11,710	11,710
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) on stock-based compensation	8,413	$ 8,413
Repurchase of common shares, (in shares)		(211,221)
Repurchase of common shares	(11,326)	$ (11,326)
Equity portion of convertible debt (Note 5)	2,453	$ 2,453
Settlement of warrants (Note 5)		2,135,221
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities	61,869			61,869
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	96,336				96,336
Noncontrolling interest redemption of shares	(713)				(713)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,710)			(1,915)	(3,795)
Joint venture cash flow hedges	3,629			3,286	343
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		126,257,870
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,755,243	$ 692,100	1,015,209	(46,139)	94,073
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	97,846		99,337		(1,491)
Dividends	(256,861)		(256,861)
Contribution to Rayonier Advanced Materials	19,130	$ (301)	(61,318)	80,749
Adjustments to Rayonier Advanced Materials	(8,226)		(5,670)	(2,556)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, (in shares)		561,701
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans	5,579	$ 5,579
Stock-based compensation	7,869	7,869
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) on stock-based compensation		$ (791)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Deficiency from Share-based Compensation	(791)
Repurchase of common shares, (in shares)		(46,474)
Repurchase of common shares	(1,858)	$ (1,858)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities	54,046
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities	(24,147)			(24,147)
Noncontrolling interest redemption of shares	(931)				(931)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(15,847)			(11,526)	(4,321)
Joint venture cash flow hedges	(1,855)			(1,206)	(649)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		126,773,097
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,575,151	$ 702,598	790,697	(4,825)	86,681
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	43,941		46,165		(2,224)
Dividends	(124,943)		(124,943)
Adjustments to Rayonier Advanced Materials	841		841
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, (in shares)		205,219
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans	2,117	$ 2,117
Stock-based compensation	4,484	4,484
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) on stock-based compensation		$ (250)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Deficiency from Share-based Compensation	(250)
Repurchase of common shares, (in shares)		(4,208,099)
Repurchase of common shares	(100,122)	$ (122)	(100,000)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities	2,933			2,933
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(32,451)			(21,567)	(10,884)
Joint venture cash flow hedges	(9,961)			(10,044)	83
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		122,770,217
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 1,361,740	$ 708,827	$ 612,760	$ (33,503)	$ 73,656