CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Income and Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	$ 245,906	$ 200,964	$ 449,101	$ 395,455
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	184,418	144,610	322,906	281,438
Selling and general expenses	11,502	10,246	20,504	19,836
Other operating expense (income), net	(1,659)	(785)	(3,029)	(1,973)
Costs and Expenses, Total	194,261	154,071	340,381	299,301
OPERATING INCOME	51,645	46,893	108,720	96,154
Interest expense	(8,102)	(8,631)	(16,155)	(17,046)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	2,905	4	3,525	522
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	46,448	38,266	96,090	79,630
Income tax benefit (expense)	(7,110)	(7,493)	(14,047)	(13,774)
NET INCOME	39,338	30,773	82,043	65,856	$ 161,579
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	3,080	4,612	5,246	5,853
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	36,258	26,161	76,797	60,003
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(29,760)	21,484	(20,072)	23,916	9,114
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	529	(1,988)	17,143	565	5,693
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	178	116	338	233	$ (208)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(29,053)	19,612	(2,591)	24,714
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	10,285	50,385	79,452	90,570
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,011)	9,595	(528)	11,247
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	15,296	40,790	79,980	79,323
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
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	(83,082)	(62,535)	(172,971)	(140,057)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(83,082)	(62,535)	(172,971)	(140,057)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME	(83,082)	(62,535)	(172,971)	(140,057)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(83,082)	(62,535)	(172,971)	(140,057)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	22,856	(17,199)	15,252	(19,202)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(1,716)	2,686	(18,097)	115
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	(178)	(116)	(338)	(233)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	20,962	(14,629)	(3,183)	(19,320)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(62,120)	(77,164)	(176,154)	(159,377)
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(62,120)	(77,164)	(176,154)	(159,377)
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Issuer) | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
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	12	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	0	0	12	0
OPERATING INCOME	0	0	(12)	0
Interest expense	(3,139)	(3,139)	(6,278)	(6,278)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	2,734	2,345	5,362	4,547
Equity in income from subsidiaries	36,663	26,955	77,725	61,734
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	36,258	26,161	76,797	60,003
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME	36,258	26,161	76,797	60,003
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	36,258	26,161	76,797	60,003
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(22,856)	17,199	(15,252)	19,202
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	1,716	(2,686)	18,097	(115)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	178	116	338	233
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(20,962)	14,629	3,183	19,320
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	15,296	40,790	79,980	79,323
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	15,296	40,790	79,980	79,323
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0	0	0
Selling and general expenses	5,471	4,248	9,859	7,784
Other operating expense (income), net	40	20	(595)	131
Costs and Expenses, Total	5,511	4,268	9,264	7,915
OPERATING INCOME	(5,511)	(4,268)	(9,264)	(7,915)
Interest expense	(4,900)	(4,883)	(9,555)	(9,741)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	746	695	1,511	1,383
Equity in income from subsidiaries	46,419	35,580	95,246	78,323
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	36,754	27,124	77,938	62,050
Income tax benefit (expense)	(91)	(169)	(213)	(316)
NET INCOME	36,663	26,955	77,725	61,734
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	36,663	26,955	77,725	61,734
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	341	0	452	0
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	5,690	(5,021)	21,287	(2,389)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	178	116	338	233
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	6,209	(4,905)	22,077	(2,156)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	42,872	22,050	99,802	59,578
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	42,872	22,050	99,802	59,578
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	245,906	200,964	449,101	395,455
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	184,418	144,610	322,906	281,438
Selling and general expenses	6,031	5,998	10,645	12,052
Other operating expense (income), net	(1,699)	(805)	(2,446)	(2,104)
Costs and Expenses, Total	188,750	149,803	331,105	291,386
OPERATING INCOME	57,156	51,161	117,996	104,069
Interest expense	(63)	(609)	(322)	(1,027)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(575)	(3,036)	(3,348)	(5,408)
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	56,518	47,516	114,326	97,634
Income tax benefit (expense)	(7,019)	(7,324)	(13,834)	(13,458)
NET INCOME	49,499	40,192	100,492	84,176
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	3,080	4,612	5,246	5,853
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	46,419	35,580	95,246	78,323
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(30,101)	21,484	(20,524)	23,916
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(5,161)	3,033	(4,144)	2,954
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(35,262)	24,517	(24,668)	26,870
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	14,237	64,709	75,824	111,046
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,011)	9,595	(528)	11,247
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	$ 19,248	$ 55,114	$ 76,352	$ 99,799