CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Income and Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	$ 138,488	$ 136,828
Selling and general expenses	9,003	9,590
Other operating expense (income), net	(1,369)	(1,188)
Costs and Expenses, Total	146,122	145,230
OPERATING INCOME	57,074	49,261
Interest expense	(8,052)	(8,415)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	620	518
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	49,642	41,364
Income tax benefit (expense)	(6,936)	(6,281)
NET INCOME	42,706	35,083	$ 161,579
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,167	1,240
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	40,539	33,843
Foreign currency translation adjustment	9,688	2,432	9,114
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	16,615	2,553	5,693
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	159	116	$ (208)
Total other comprehensive income	26,462	5,101
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	69,168	40,184
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,483	1,651
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	64,685	38,533
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
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	(89,891)	(77,524)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(89,891)	(77,524)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0
NET INCOME	(89,891)	(77,524)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(89,891)	(77,524)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(7,606)	(2,002)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(16,381)	(2,572)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	(159)	(116)
Total other comprehensive income	(24,146)	(4,690)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(114,037)	(82,214)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(114,037)	(82,214)
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Issuer) | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	13	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	13	0
OPERATING INCOME	(13)	0
Interest expense	(3,139)	(3,139)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	2,628	2,202
Equity in income from subsidiaries	41,063	34,780
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	40,539	33,843
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0
NET INCOME	40,539	33,843
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	40,539	33,843
Foreign currency translation adjustment	7,606	2,002
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	16,381	2,572
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	159	116
Total other comprehensive income	24,146	4,690
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	64,685	38,533
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	64,685	38,533
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	4,389	3,536
Other operating expense (income), net	(635)	111
Costs and Expenses, Total	3,754	3,647
OPERATING INCOME	(3,754)	(3,647)
Interest expense	(4,653)	(4,858)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	765	689
Equity in income from subsidiaries	48,828	42,744
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	41,186	34,928
Income tax benefit (expense)	(123)	(148)
NET INCOME	41,063	34,780
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	41,063	34,780
Foreign currency translation adjustment	111	0
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	15,598	2,633
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	159	116
Total other comprehensive income	15,868	2,749
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	56,931	37,529
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	56,931	37,529
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	203,196	194,491
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	138,488	136,828
Selling and general expenses	4,614	6,054
Other operating expense (income), net	(747)	(1,299)
Costs and Expenses, Total	142,355	141,583
OPERATING INCOME	60,841	52,908
Interest expense	(260)	(418)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(2,773)	(2,373)
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	57,808	50,117
Income tax benefit (expense)	(6,813)	(6,133)
NET INCOME	50,995	43,984
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,167	1,240
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	48,828	42,744
Foreign currency translation adjustment	9,577	2,432
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	1,017	(80)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	0	0
Total other comprehensive income	10,594	2,352
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	61,589	46,336
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,483	1,651
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	$ 57,106	$ 44,685