CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 130,956		$ 148,374
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	44,931		26,151
Inventory	23,597		15,703
Prepaid expenses	20,581		17,016
Other current assets	690		609
Total current assets	220,755		207,853
TIMBER AND TIMBERLANDS, NET OF DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION	2,392,389		2,401,327
HIGHER AND BETTER USE TIMBERLANDS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS	77,072		85,609
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	22,044		22,751
RESTRICTED CASH	3,754		8,080
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS	104,016		0
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES	0		0
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE	0		0
OTHER ASSETS	41,021		55,046
TOTAL ASSETS	2,861,051		2,780,666
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	24,944		18,019
Accrued taxes	5,935		3,178
Accrued payroll and benefits	5,451		10,416
Accrued interest	4,931		5,007
Deferred revenue	19,798		10,447
Other current liabilities	25,026		16,474
Total current liabilities	86,085		63,541
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS	972,848		972,567
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS	29,383		29,800
LONG-TERM LEASE LIABILITY	93,749		0
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	78,688		60,208
TOTAL RAYONIER INC. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,500,850		1,556,873
Noncontrolling interest	99,448		97,677
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,600,298	$ 1,641,200	1,654,550	$ 1,712,877	$ 1,736,173	$ 1,692,940
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	2,861,051		2,780,666
Consolidating Adjustments
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	0		0
Inventory	0		0
Prepaid expenses	0		0
Other current assets	0		0
Total current assets	0		0
TIMBER AND TIMBERLANDS, NET OF DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION	0		0
HIGHER AND BETTER USE TIMBERLANDS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS	0		0
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	0		0
RESTRICTED CASH	0		0
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS	0
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES	(4,780,920)		(4,856,774)
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE	0		0
OTHER ASSETS	0		0
TOTAL ASSETS	(4,780,920)		(4,856,774)
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued taxes	0		0
Accrued payroll and benefits	0		0
Accrued interest	0		0
Deferred revenue	0		0
Other current liabilities	0		0
Total current liabilities	0		0
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS	0		0
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS	0		0
LONG-TERM LEASE LIABILITY	0
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	0		0
TOTAL RAYONIER INC. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	(4,780,920)		(4,856,774)
Noncontrolling interest	0		0
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	(4,780,920)		(4,856,774)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	(4,780,920)		(4,856,774)
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Issuer) | Reportable Legal Entities
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	84		361
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	0		0
Inventory	0		0
Prepaid expenses	0		0
Other current assets	0		0
Total current assets	84		361
TIMBER AND TIMBERLANDS, NET OF DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION	0		0
HIGHER AND BETTER USE TIMBERLANDS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS	0		0
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	0		0
RESTRICTED CASH	0		0
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS	0
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES	1,771,540		1,833,899
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE	56,257		49,461
OTHER ASSETS	2		2
TOTAL ASSETS	1,827,883		1,883,723
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued taxes	0		0
Accrued payroll and benefits	0		0
Accrued interest	3,046		3,047
Deferred revenue	0		0
Other current liabilities	0		0
Total current liabilities	3,046		3,047
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS	323,987		323,803
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS	0		0
LONG-TERM LEASE LIABILITY	0
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	0		0
TOTAL RAYONIER INC. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,500,850		1,556,873
Noncontrolling interest	0		0
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,500,850		1,556,873
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,827,883		1,883,723
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	92,874		104,777
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,919		3,752
Inventory	0		0
Prepaid expenses	2,286		977
Other current assets	97		108
Total current assets	97,176		109,614
TIMBER AND TIMBERLANDS, NET OF DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION	0		0
HIGHER AND BETTER USE TIMBERLANDS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS	0		0
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	16,439		16,940
RESTRICTED CASH	0		0
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS	35,291
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES	3,009,380		3,022,875
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE	(644,161)		(638,424)
OTHER ASSETS	169		19,244
TOTAL ASSETS	2,514,294		2,530,249
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	4,227		1,616
Accrued taxes	170		8
Accrued payroll and benefits	3,123		5,848
Accrued interest	1,885		1,960
Deferred revenue	0		0
Other current liabilities	5,793		216
Total current liabilities	15,198		9,648
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS	648,861		648,764
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS	30,067		30,484
LONG-TERM LEASE LIABILITY	30,130
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	18,498		7,454
TOTAL RAYONIER INC. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,771,540		1,833,899
Noncontrolling interest	0		0
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,771,540		1,833,899
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	2,514,294		2,530,249
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	37,998		43,236
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	43,012		22,399
Inventory	23,597		15,703
Prepaid expenses	18,295		16,039
Other current assets	593		501
Total current assets	123,495		97,878
TIMBER AND TIMBERLANDS, NET OF DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION	2,392,389		2,401,327
HIGHER AND BETTER USE TIMBERLANDS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS	77,072		85,609
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	5,605		5,811
RESTRICTED CASH	3,754		8,080
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS	68,725
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES	0		0
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE	587,904		588,963
OTHER ASSETS	40,850		35,800
TOTAL ASSETS	3,299,794		3,223,468
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	20,717		16,403
Accrued taxes	5,765		3,170
Accrued payroll and benefits	2,328		4,568
Accrued interest	0		0
Deferred revenue	19,798		10,447
Other current liabilities	19,233		16,258
Total current liabilities	67,841		50,846
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS	0		0
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS	(684)		(684)
LONG-TERM LEASE LIABILITY	63,619
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	60,190		52,754
TOTAL RAYONIER INC. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	3,009,380		3,022,875
Noncontrolling interest	99,448		97,677
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	3,108,828		3,120,552
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$ 3,299,794		$ 3,223,468