Quarterly Results for 2017 and 2016 (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Sales	$ 239,722	$ 184,419	$ 200,964	$ 194,491	$ 229,302	$ 176,867	$ 269,171	$ 140,575	$ 819,596	$ 815,915	$ 568,800
Cost of sales	149,832	136,983	144,610	136,828	162,590	116,922	138,480	108,447	568,253	526,439	441,718
Net Income	66,920	28,803	30,773	35,083	50,509	40,624	111,579	15,058	161,579	217,770	43,941
Net Income attributable to Rayonier Inc.	$ 64,150	$ 24,688	$ 26,161	$ 33,843	$ 48,324	$ 39,355	$ 109,821	$ 14,472	$ 148,842	$ 211,972	$ 46,165
Net Income, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.19	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.39	$ 0.32	$ 0.90	$ 0.12	$ 1.17	$ 1.73	$ 0.37
Net income, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.19	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.39	$ 0.32	$ 0.89	$ 0.12	$ 1.16	$ 1.73	$ 0.37
Prior to Reclassification
Sales	$ 233,482	$ 177,946	$ 194,719	$ 186,512	$ 220,464	$ 171,421	$ 261,550	$ 134,843	$ 792,659	$ 788,278	$ 544,874
Cost of sales	$ 149,206	$ 136,583	$ 143,687	$ 136,413	$ 161,918	$ 116,624	$ 138,194	$ 107,971	$ 565,889	$ 524,707	$ 441,099