Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income - 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
Statement of Comprehensive Income [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 income, net (Note 17)									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 income and miscellaneous income (expense), net									4,564	1,840	(698)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									142,566	183,260	222,834
Income tax expense (Note 9)									(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 effect of $1,270, $594 and $545									5,029	5,693	22,822
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities, net of income tax effect of $711, $0 and $0									(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
Basic earnings per share attributable to Rayonier Inc.
Net Income, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.18	$ 0.28	$ 0.31	$ 0.50	$ 0.19	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.79	$ 1.17	$ 1.73
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Rayonier Inc.
Net income, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.18	$ 0.28	$ 0.31	$ 0.50	$ 0.19	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.79	$ 1.16	$ 1.73