CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Income and Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	$ 186,512	$ 134,843
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	136,413	107,971
Selling and general expenses	9,590	9,779
Other operating expense (income), net	(8,752)	(5,904)
Costs and Expenses, Total	137,251	111,846
OPERATING INCOME	49,261	22,997
Interest expense	(8,415)	(7,098)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	518	(1,622)
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	41,364	14,277
Income tax (expense) benefit	(6,281)	781
NET INCOME	35,083	15,058	$ 217,770
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,240	586
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	33,843	14,472
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,432	2,804	6,322
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	2,553	(13,774)	22,822
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	116	617	$ 5,533
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	5,101	(10,353)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	40,184	4,705
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,651	(3,749)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	38,533	8,454
Consolidating Adjustments
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	0	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	0	0
OPERATING INCOME	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	0	0
Equity in income from subsidiaries	(77,524)	(34,570)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(77,524)	(34,570)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
NET INCOME	(77,524)	(34,570)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(77,524)	(34,570)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(2,002)	(7,288)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(2,572)	13,923
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	(116)	(617)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,690)	6,018
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(82,214)	(28,552)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(82,214)	(28,552)
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Issuer)
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	0	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	0	0
OPERATING INCOME	0	0
Interest expense	(3,139)	(3,139)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	2,202	2,038
Equity in income from subsidiaries	34,780	15,573
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	33,843	14,472
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
NET INCOME	33,843	14,472
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	33,843	14,472
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,002	7,288
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	2,572	(13,923)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	116	617
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	4,690	(6,018)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	38,533	8,454
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	38,533	8,454
Subsidiary Guarantors
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	3,536	2,938
Other operating expense (income), net	111	(1,155)
Costs and Expenses, Total	3,647	1,783
OPERATING INCOME	(3,647)	(1,783)
Interest expense	(4,858)	(2,144)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	689	681
Equity in income from subsidiaries	42,744	18,997
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	34,928	15,751
Income tax (expense) benefit	(148)	(178)
NET INCOME	34,780	15,573
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	34,780	15,573
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	(4,606)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	2,633	(14,886)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	116	617
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	2,749	(18,875)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	37,529	(3,302)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	37,529	(3,302)
Non- guarantors
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	186,512	134,843
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	136,413	107,971
Selling and general expenses	6,054	6,841
Other operating expense (income), net	(8,863)	(4,749)
Costs and Expenses, Total	133,604	110,063
OPERATING INCOME	52,908	24,780
Interest expense	(418)	(1,815)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(2,373)	(4,341)
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	50,117	18,624
Income tax (expense) benefit	(6,133)	959
NET INCOME	43,984	19,583
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,240	586
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	42,744	18,997
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,432	7,410
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(80)	1,112
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	2,352	8,522
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	46,336	28,105
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,651	(3,749)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	$ 44,685	$ 31,854