Consolidating Financial Statements - Income and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	$ 239,722	$ 184,419	$ 200,964	$ 194,491	$ 229,302	$ 176,867	$ 269,171	$ 140,575	$ 819,596	$ 815,915	$ 568,800
Costs and Expenses
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
Selling and general expenses									40,245	42,785	45,750
Other operating (income) expense, net									(4,393)	(9,086)	3,548
Costs and Expenses, Total									604,105	560,138	491,016
OPERATING INCOME									215,491	255,777	77,784
Interest expense									(34,071)	(32,245)	(31,699)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net									1,840	(698)	(3,003)
Equity in income from subsidiaries									0	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									183,260	222,834	43,082
Income tax (expense) benefit									(21,681)	(5,064)	859
NET INCOME	66,920	28,803	30,773	35,083	50,509	40,624	111,579	15,058	161,579	217,770	43,941
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									12,737	5,798	(2,224)
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
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $1,066									9,114	6,322	(32,451)
New Zealand joint venture cash flow hedges									5,693	22,822	(9,961)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities									(208)	5,533	2,933
Total other comprehensive income									14,599	34,677	(39,479)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									176,178	252,447	4,462
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									14,775	9,555	(13,027)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									161,403	242,892	17,489
Consolidating Adjustments
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES									0	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales									0	0	0
Selling and general expenses									0	0	0
Other operating (income) expense, net									0	0	0
Costs and Expenses, Total									0	0	0
OPERATING INCOME									0	0	0
Interest expense									0	0	0
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net									0	0	0
Equity in income from subsidiaries									(338,107)	(462,107)	(126,611)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									(338,107)	(462,107)	(126,611)
Income tax (expense) benefit									0	0	0
NET INCOME									(338,107)	(462,107)	(126,611)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									(338,107)	(462,107)	(126,611)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $1,066									(7,416)	(2,782)	21,567
New Zealand joint venture cash flow hedges									(5,353)	(22,608)	10,042
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities									208	(5,533)	(2,933)
Total other comprehensive income									(12,561)	(30,923)	28,676
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									(350,668)	(493,030)	(97,935)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									(350,668)	(493,030)	(97,935)
Rayonier Inc.(Parent Issuer) | Reportable Legal Entities
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES									0	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales									0	0	0
Selling and general expenses									0	0	0
Other operating (income) expense, net									0	0	0
Costs and Expenses, Total									0	0	0
OPERATING INCOME									0	0	0
Interest expense									(12,556)	(12,555)	(12,703)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net									9,679	8,613	7,789
Equity in income from subsidiaries									151,719	215,914	51,079
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									148,842	211,972	46,165
Income tax (expense) benefit									0	0	0
NET INCOME									148,842	211,972	46,165
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									148,842	211,972	46,165
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $1,066									7,416	2,780	(21,567)
New Zealand joint venture cash flow hedges									5,353	22,607	(10,042)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities									(208)	5,533	2,933
Total other comprehensive income									12,561	30,920	(28,676)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									161,403	242,892	17,489
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									161,403	242,892	17,489
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES									0	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales									0	0	0
Selling and general expenses									16,797	15,253	20,468
Other operating (income) expense, net									479	448	(404)
Costs and Expenses, Total									17,276	15,701	20,064
OPERATING INCOME									(17,276)	(15,701)	(20,064)
Interest expense									(19,699)	(16,775)	(9,135)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net									2,878	2,750	2,612
Equity in income from subsidiaries									186,388	246,193	75,532
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									152,291	216,467	48,945
Income tax (expense) benefit									(572)	(553)	2,134
NET INCOME									151,719	215,914	51,079
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									151,719	215,914	51,079
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $1,066									0	(4,606)	7,922
New Zealand joint venture cash flow hedges									4,214	21,422	(10,195)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities									(208)	5,533	2,933
Total other comprehensive income									4,006	22,349	660
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									155,725	238,263	51,739
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									155,725	238,263	51,739
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES									819,596	815,915	568,800
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales									568,253	526,439	441,718
Selling and general expenses									23,448	27,532	25,282
Other operating (income) expense, net									(4,872)	(9,534)	3,952
Costs and Expenses, Total									586,829	544,437	470,952
OPERATING INCOME									232,767	271,478	97,848
Interest expense									(1,816)	(2,915)	(9,861)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net									(10,717)	(12,061)	(13,404)
Equity in income from subsidiaries									0	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									220,234	256,502	74,583
Income tax (expense) benefit									(21,109)	(4,511)	(1,275)
NET INCOME									199,125	251,991	73,308
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									12,737	5,798	(2,224)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									186,388	246,193	75,532
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $1,066									9,114	10,930	(40,373)
New Zealand joint venture cash flow hedges									1,479	1,401	234
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income									10,593	12,331	(40,139)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									209,718	264,322	33,169
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									14,775	9,555	(13,027)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									$ 194,943	$ 254,767	$ 46,196