CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Income and Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	$ 184,800		$ 245,906		$ 376,346	$ 449,101
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	(140,454)		(184,418)		(283,705)	(322,906)
Selling and general expenses	(10,984)		(11,502)		(20,794)	(20,504)
Other operating (expense) income, net	(1,969)		1,659		(1,934)	3,029
Costs and Expenses, Total	(153,407)		(194,261)		(306,433)	(340,381)
OPERATING INCOME	31,393		51,645		69,913	108,720
Interest expense	(7,922)		(8,102)		(15,632)	(16,155)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	1,057		2,905		2,390	3,525
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0		0		0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	24,528		46,448		56,671	96,090
Income tax expense	(3,608)		(7,110)		(7,958)	(14,047)
NET INCOME	20,920	$ 27,793	39,338	$ 42,706	48,713	82,043
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,168)		(3,080)		(5,167)	(5,246)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	18,752		36,258		43,546	76,797
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(5,604)	6,033	(29,760)	9,688	429	(20,072)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(19,519)	(10,686)	529	16,615	(30,205)	17,143
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	112	$ 112	178	$ 159	224	338
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(25,011)		(29,053)		(29,552)	(2,591)
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	(4,091)		10,285		19,161	79,452
Less: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(815)		5,011		(5,366)	528
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(4,906)		15,296		13,795	79,980
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	(55,420)		(83,082)		(121,238)	(172,971)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(55,420)		(83,082)		(121,238)	(172,971)
Income tax expense	0		0		0	0
NET INCOME	(55,420)		(83,082)		(121,238)	(172,971)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0		0		0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(55,420)		(83,082)		(121,238)	(172,971)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	4,305		22,856		(375)	15,252
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	19,465		(1,716)		30,349	(18,097)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	(112)		(178)		(224)	(338)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	23,658		20,962		29,750	(3,183)
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	(31,762)		(62,120)		(91,488)	(176,154)
Less: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0		0		0	0
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(31,762)		(62,120)		(91,488)	(176,154)
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		0	(12)
Costs and Expenses, Total	0		0		0	(12)
OPERATING INCOME	0		0		0	(12)
Interest expense	(3,140)		(3,139)		(6,278)	(6,278)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(457)		2,734		(913)	5,362
Equity in income from subsidiaries	22,349		36,663		50,737	77,725
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	18,752		36,258		43,546	76,797
Income tax expense	0		0		0	0
NET INCOME	18,752		36,258		43,546	76,797
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0		0		0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	18,752		36,258		43,546	76,797
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(4,305)		(22,856)		374	(15,252)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(19,465)		1,716		(30,349)	18,097
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	112		178		224	338
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(23,658)		(20,962)		(29,751)	3,183
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	(4,906)		15,296		13,795	79,980
Less: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0		0		0	0
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(4,906)		15,296		13,795	79,980
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	(5,660)		(5,471)		(10,503)	(9,859)
Other operating (expense) income, net	(1,091)		(40)		(1,090)	595
Costs and Expenses, Total	(6,751)		(5,511)		(11,593)	(9,264)
OPERATING INCOME	(6,751)		(5,511)		(11,593)	(9,264)
Interest expense	(4,769)		(4,900)		(9,316)	(9,555)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	928		746		1,892	1,511
Equity in income from subsidiaries	33,071		46,419		70,501	95,246
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	22,479		36,754		51,484	77,938
Income tax expense	(130)		(91)		(747)	(213)
NET INCOME	22,349		36,663		50,737	77,725
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0		0		0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	22,349		36,663		50,737	77,725
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	0		341		(90)	452
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(19,284)		5,690		(30,832)	21,287
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	112		178		224	338
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(19,172)		6,209		(30,698)	22,077
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	3,177		42,872		20,039	99,802
Less: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0		0		0	0
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	3,177		42,872		20,039	99,802
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	184,800		245,906		376,346	449,101
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	(140,454)		(184,418)		(283,705)	(322,906)
Selling and general expenses	(5,324)		(6,031)		(10,291)	(10,645)
Other operating (expense) income, net	(878)		1,699		(844)	2,446
Costs and Expenses, Total	(146,656)		(188,750)		(294,840)	(331,105)
OPERATING INCOME	38,144		57,156		81,506	117,996
Interest expense	(13)		(63)		(38)	(322)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	586		(575)		1,411	(3,348)
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0		0		0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	38,717		56,518		82,879	114,326
Income tax expense	(3,478)		(7,019)		(7,211)	(13,834)
NET INCOME	35,239		49,499		75,668	100,492
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,168)		(3,080)		(5,167)	(5,246)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	33,071		46,419		70,501	95,246
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(5,604)		(30,101)		520	(20,524)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(235)		(5,161)		627	(4,144)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	0		0		0	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(5,839)		(35,262)		1,147	(24,668)
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	29,400		14,237		76,815	75,824
Less: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(815)		5,011		(5,366)	528
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	$ 28,585		$ 19,248		$ 71,449	$ 76,352