CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 56,946			$ 148,374
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	26,059			26,151
Inventory	8,352			15,703
Prepaid expenses	14,894			17,016
Other current assets	279			609
Total current assets	106,530			207,853
TIMBER AND TIMBERLANDS, NET OF DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION	2,408,310			2,401,327
HIGHER AND BETTER USE TIMBERLANDS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS	89,456			85,609
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	22,200			22,751
RESTRICTED CASH	2,988			8,080
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS	97,432			0
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES	0			0
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE	0			0
OTHER ASSETS	40,162			55,046
TOTAL ASSETS	2,767,078			2,780,666
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	19,556			18,019
Accrued taxes	8,096			3,178
Accrued payroll and benefits	6,559			10,416
Accrued interest	7,976			5,007
Deferred revenue	15,320			10,447
Other current liabilities	26,262			16,474
Total current liabilities	83,769			63,541
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS	972,989			972,567
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS	23,953			29,800
LONG-TERM LEASE LIABILITY	88,387			0
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	82,359			60,208
TOTAL RAYONIER INC. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,425,064			1,556,873
Noncontrolling interest	90,557			97,677
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,515,621	$ 1,600,298	$ 1,641,200	1,654,550	$ 1,701,099	$ 1,712,877	$ 1,736,173	$ 1,692,940
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	2,767,078			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	(4,687,365)			(4,856,774)
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE	0			0
OTHER ASSETS	0			0
TOTAL ASSETS	(4,687,365)			(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	(4,687,365)			(4,856,774)
Noncontrolling interest	0			0
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	(4,687,365)			(4,856,774)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	(4,687,365)			(4,856,774)
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Issuer) | Reportable Legal Entities
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	6,181			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	6,181			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	1,692,797			1,833,899
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE	56,257			49,461
OTHER ASSETS	2			2
TOTAL ASSETS	1,755,237			1,883,723
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	0			0
Accrued taxes	0			0
Accrued payroll and benefits	0			0
Accrued interest	6,094			3,047
Deferred revenue	0			0
Other current liabilities	0			0
Total current liabilities	6,094			3,047
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS	324,079			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	1,425,064			1,556,873
Noncontrolling interest	0			0
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,425,064			1,556,873
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,755,237			1,883,723
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	32,926			104,777
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	2,894			3,752
Inventory	0			0
Prepaid expenses	2,056			977
Other current assets	97			108
Total current assets	37,973			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	16,803			16,940
RESTRICTED CASH	0			0
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS	33,893
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES	2,994,568			3,022,875
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE	(644,851)			(638,424)
OTHER ASSETS	(2,735)			19,244
TOTAL ASSETS	2,435,651			2,530,249
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	3,381			1,616
Accrued taxes	227			8
Accrued payroll and benefits	4,217			5,848
Accrued interest	1,882			1,960
Deferred revenue	0			0
Other current liabilities	4,747			216
Total current liabilities	14,454			9,648
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS	648,910			648,764
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS	24,637			30,484
LONG-TERM LEASE LIABILITY	29,619
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	25,234			7,454
TOTAL RAYONIER INC. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,692,797			1,833,899
Noncontrolling interest	0			0
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	1,692,797			1,833,899
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	2,435,651			2,530,249
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	17,839			43,236
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	23,165			22,399
Inventory	8,352			15,703
Prepaid expenses	12,838			16,039
Other current assets	182			501
Total current assets	62,376			97,878
TIMBER AND TIMBERLANDS, NET OF DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION	2,408,310			2,401,327
HIGHER AND BETTER USE TIMBERLANDS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS	89,456			85,609
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	5,397			5,811
RESTRICTED CASH	2,988			8,080
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS	63,539
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES	0			0
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE	588,594			588,963
OTHER ASSETS	42,895			35,800
TOTAL ASSETS	3,263,555			3,223,468
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	16,175			16,403
Accrued taxes	7,869			3,170
Accrued payroll and benefits	2,342			4,568
Accrued interest	0			0
Deferred revenue	15,320			10,447
Other current liabilities	21,515			16,258
Total current liabilities	63,221			50,846
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS	0			0
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS	(684)			(684)
LONG-TERM LEASE LIABILITY	58,768
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	57,125			52,754
TOTAL RAYONIER INC. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	2,994,568			3,022,875
Noncontrolling interest	90,557			97,677
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	3,085,125			3,120,552
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$ 3,263,555			$ 3,223,468