Consolidating Financial Statements - Income and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	$ 166,146	$ 200,890	$ 245,906	$ 203,196	$ 239,722	$ 184,419	$ 200,964	$ 194,491	$ 816,138	$ 819,596	$ 815,915
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	(139,092)	(143,261)	(184,418)	(138,488)	(149,832)	(136,983)	(144,610)	(136,828)	(605,259)	(568,253)	(526,439)
Selling and general expenses									(41,951)	(40,245)	(42,785)
Other operating (expense) income, net									1,140	4,393	9,086
Costs and Expenses, Total									(646,070)	(604,105)	(560,138)
OPERATING INCOME									170,068	215,491	255,777
Interest expense									(32,066)	(34,071)	(32,245)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net									4,564	1,840	(698)
Equity in income from subsidiaries									0	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									142,566	183,260	222,834
Income tax (expense) benefit									(25,236)	(21,681)	(5,064)
NET INCOME	4,647	30,639	39,338	42,706	66,920	28,803	30,773	35,083	117,330	161,579	217,770
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									(15,114)	(12,737)	(5,798)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	$ 1,987	$ 23,432	$ 36,258	$ 40,539	$ 64,150	$ 24,688	$ 26,161	$ 33,843	102,216	148,842	211,972
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $0									(22,759)	9,114	6,322
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax									5,029	5,693	22,822
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities, net of income tax									(1,630)	(208)	5,533
Total other comprehensive income									(19,360)	14,599	34,677
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									97,970	176,178	252,447
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest									(8,931)	(14,775)	(9,555)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									89,039	161,403	242,892
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 (expense) income, 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									(253,052)	(338,107)	(462,107)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									(253,052)	(338,107)	(462,107)
Income tax (expense) benefit									0	0	0
NET INCOME									(253,052)	(338,107)	(462,107)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									(253,052)	(338,107)	(462,107)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $0									17,329	(7,416)	(2,782)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax									(5,782)	(5,353)	(22,608)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities, net of income tax									1,630	208	(5,533)
Total other comprehensive income									13,177	(12,561)	(30,923)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									(239,875)	(350,668)	(493,030)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									(239,875)	(350,668)	(493,030)
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 (expense) income, net									(12)	0	0
Costs and Expenses, Total									(12)	0	0
OPERATING INCOME									(12)	0	0
Interest expense									(12,556)	(12,556)	(12,555)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net									6,648	9,679	8,613
Equity in income from subsidiaries									108,136	151,719	215,914
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									102,216	148,842	211,972
Income tax (expense) benefit									0	0	0
NET INCOME									102,216	148,842	211,972
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									102,216	148,842	211,972
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $0									(17,329)	7,416	2,780
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax									5,782	5,353	22,607
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities, net of income tax									(1,630)	(208)	5,533
Total other comprehensive income									(13,177)	12,561	30,920
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									89,039	161,403	242,892
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									89,039	161,403	242,892
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									(19,812)	(16,797)	(15,253)
Other operating (expense) income, net									543	(479)	(448)
Costs and Expenses, Total									(19,269)	(17,276)	(15,701)
OPERATING INCOME									(19,269)	(17,276)	(15,701)
Interest expense									(19,155)	(19,699)	(16,775)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net									3,863	2,878	2,750
Equity in income from subsidiaries									144,916	186,388	246,193
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									110,355	152,291	216,467
Income tax (expense) benefit									(2,219)	(572)	(553)
NET INCOME									108,136	151,719	215,914
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									108,136	151,719	215,914
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $0									386	0	(4,606)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax									8,296	4,214	21,422
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities, net of income tax									(1,630)	(208)	5,533
Total other comprehensive income									7,052	4,006	22,349
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									115,188	155,725	238,263
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									115,188	155,725	238,263
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES									816,138	819,596	815,915
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales									(605,259)	(568,253)	(526,439)
Selling and general expenses									(22,139)	(23,448)	(27,532)
Other operating (expense) income, net									609	4,872	9,534
Costs and Expenses, Total									(626,789)	(586,829)	(544,437)
OPERATING INCOME									189,349	232,767	271,478
Interest expense									(355)	(1,816)	(2,915)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net									(5,947)	(10,717)	(12,061)
Equity in income from subsidiaries									0	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									183,047	220,234	256,502
Income tax (expense) benefit									(23,017)	(21,109)	(4,511)
NET INCOME									160,030	199,125	251,991
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									(15,114)	(12,737)	(5,798)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									144,916	186,388	246,193
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $0									(23,145)	9,114	10,930
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax									(3,267)	1,479	1,401
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities, net of income tax									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income									(26,412)	10,593	12,331
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									133,618	209,718	264,322
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest									(8,931)	(14,775)	(9,555)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									$ 124,687	$ 194,943	$ 254,767