CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Income and Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	$ 177,946	$ 171,421	$ 559,178	$ 567,814
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	136,583	116,624	416,683	362,790
Selling and general expenses	9,936	10,607	29,771	31,638
Other operating expense (income), net	(7,844)	(5,499)	(22,702)	(20,867)
Costs and Expenses, Total	138,675	121,732	423,752	373,561
OPERATING INCOME	39,271	49,689	135,426	194,253
Interest expense	(8,553)	(8,544)	(25,600)	(23,603)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	1,128	258	1,650	(1,115)
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	31,846	41,403	111,476	169,535
Income tax benefit (expense)	(3,043)	(779)	(16,817)	(2,274)
NET INCOME	28,803	40,624	94,659	167,261	$ 217,770
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,115	1,269	9,968	3,613
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	24,688	39,355	84,691	163,648
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(7,317)	12,022	16,599	28,046	6,322
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(2,162)	4,195	(1,597)	(22,055)	22,822
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	116	632	349	1,881	$ 5,533
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(9,363)	16,849	15,351	7,872
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	19,440	57,473	110,010	175,133
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,289	3,649	13,537	11,808
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	17,151	53,824	96,473	163,325
Consolidating Adjustments
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0	0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	0	0	0	0
OPERATING INCOME	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	0	0	0	0
Equity in income from subsidiaries	(59,270)	(90,610)	(199,328)	(355,307)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(59,270)	(90,610)	(199,328)	(355,307)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME	(59,270)	(90,610)	(199,328)	(355,307)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(59,270)	(90,610)	(199,328)	(355,307)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	5,866	(9,791)	(13,335)	(20,529)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	1,787	(4,044)	1,902	22,733
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	(116)	(632)	(349)	(1,881)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	7,537	(14,467)	(11,782)	323
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(51,733)	(105,077)	(211,110)	(354,984)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(51,733)	(105,077)	(211,110)	(354,984)
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Issuer) | Reportable Legal Entities
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0	0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	0	0	0	0
OPERATING INCOME	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(3,139)	(3,139)	(9,417)	(9,417)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	2,486	2,199	7,033	6,346
Equity in income from subsidiaries	25,341	40,295	87,075	166,719
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	24,688	39,355	84,691	163,648
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME	24,688	39,355	84,691	163,648
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	24,688	39,355	84,691	163,648
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,866)	9,793	13,335	20,529
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(1,787)	4,044	(1,902)	(22,733)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	116	632	349	1,881
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(7,537)	14,469	11,782	(323)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	17,151	53,824	96,473	163,325
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	17,151	53,824	96,473	163,325
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0	0	0
Selling and general expenses	4,096	5,904	11,880	11,485
Other operating expense (income), net	81	190	212	378
Costs and Expenses, Total	4,177	6,094	12,092	11,863
OPERATING INCOME	(4,177)	(6,094)	(12,092)	(11,863)
Interest expense	(4,982)	(5,150)	(14,723)	(11,678)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	704	694	2,087	2,059
Equity in income from subsidiaries	33,929	50,315	112,253	188,588
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	25,474	39,765	87,525	167,106
Income tax benefit (expense)	(133)	530	(450)	(387)
NET INCOME	25,341	40,295	87,075	166,719
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	25,341	40,295	87,075	166,719
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	(4,607)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(533)	3,530	(2,921)	(25,458)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	116	632	349	1,881
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(417)	4,162	(2,572)	(28,184)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	24,924	44,457	84,503	138,535
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	24,924	44,457	84,503	138,535
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	177,946	171,421	559,178	567,814
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	136,583	116,624	416,683	362,790
Selling and general expenses	5,840	4,703	17,891	20,153
Other operating expense (income), net	(7,925)	(5,689)	(22,914)	(21,245)
Costs and Expenses, Total	134,498	115,638	411,660	361,698
OPERATING INCOME	43,448	55,783	147,518	206,116
Interest expense	(432)	(255)	(1,460)	(2,508)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(2,062)	(2,635)	(7,470)	(9,520)
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	40,954	52,893	138,588	194,088
Income tax benefit (expense)	(2,910)	(1,309)	(16,367)	(1,887)
NET INCOME	38,044	51,584	122,221	192,201
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,115	1,269	9,968	3,613
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	33,929	50,315	112,253	188,588
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(7,317)	12,020	16,599	32,653
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(1,629)	665	1,324	3,403
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(8,946)	12,685	17,923	36,056
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	29,098	64,269	140,144	228,257
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,289	3,649	13,537	11,808
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	$ 26,809	$ 60,620	$ 126,607	$ 216,449