CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		$ 164,193	$ 261,051
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures		(45,271)	(44,137)
Real estate development investments		(3,349)	(6,889)
Purchase of timberlands		(81,913)	(38,978)
Investment in subsidiaries		0	0
Other		(2,219)	2,132
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(132,752)	(87,872)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt		0	1,014
Repayment of debt		0	(54,416)
Dividends paid		(106,125)	(101,839)
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares under incentive stock plan		831	8,216
Repurchase of common shares		(4,249)	(2,980)
Proceeds from shareholder distribution hedge		135	610
Repurchase of common shares made under repurchase program		(8,430)	0
Issuance of intercompany notes			0
Distribution to minority shareholder		(7,315)	(3,122)
Intercompany distributions		0	0
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(125,153)	(152,517)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH		(2,808)	(1,341)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(96,520)	19,321
Balance, beginning of year		156,454	172,356
Balance, end of period		59,934	191,677
Intercompany loans waived	$ 308,700
Accrued interest waived	$ 67,200
Consolidating Adjustments
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		0	0
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures		0	0
Real estate development investments		0	0
Purchase of timberlands		0	0
Investment in subsidiaries		3,945	(40,554)
Other		0	0
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES		3,945	(40,554)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt			0
Repayment of debt			0
Dividends paid		0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares under incentive stock plan		0	0
Repurchase of common shares		0	0
Proceeds from shareholder distribution hedge		0	0
Repurchase of common shares made under repurchase program		0
Issuance of intercompany notes			0
Distribution to minority shareholder		0	0
Intercompany distributions		(3,945)	40,554
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(3,945)	40,554
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH		0	0
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		0	0
Balance, beginning of year		0	0
Balance, end of period		0	0
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Issuer) | Reportable Legal Entities
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		(14,637)	(16,590)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures		0	0
Real estate development investments		0	0
Purchase of timberlands		0	0
Investment in subsidiaries		0	0
Other		0	0
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES		0	0
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt			0
Repayment of debt			0
Dividends paid		(104,667)	(101,839)
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares under incentive stock plan		831	8,216
Repurchase of common shares		(4,249)	(2,980)
Proceeds from shareholder distribution hedge		0	0
Repurchase of common shares made under repurchase program		0
Issuance of intercompany notes			9,000
Distribution to minority shareholder		0	0
Intercompany distributions		128,542	79,874
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES		20,457	(25,729)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH		0	0
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		5,820	(42,319)
Balance, beginning of year		361	48,564
Balance, end of period		6,181	6,245
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		15,495	165,283
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures		(619)	(58)
Real estate development investments		0	0
Purchase of timberlands		0	0
Investment in subsidiaries		(3,945)	40,554
Other		(7,304)	0
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(11,868)	40,496
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt			0
Repayment of debt			(50,000)
Dividends paid		(25,983)	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares under incentive stock plan		0	0
Repurchase of common shares		0	0
Proceeds from shareholder distribution hedge		0	0
Repurchase of common shares made under repurchase program		(8,430)
Issuance of intercompany notes			0
Distribution to minority shareholder		0	0
Intercompany distributions		(41,065)	(88,074)
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(75,478)	(138,074)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH		0	0
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(71,851)	67,705
Balance, beginning of year		104,777	25,042
Balance, end of period		32,926	92,747
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		163,335	112,358
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures		(44,652)	(44,079)
Real estate development investments		(3,349)	(6,889)
Purchase of timberlands		(81,913)	(38,978)
Investment in subsidiaries		0	0
Other		5,085	2,132
CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(124,829)	(87,814)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of debt			1,014
Repayment of debt			(4,416)
Dividends paid		24,525	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares under incentive stock plan		0	0
Repurchase of common shares		0	0
Proceeds from shareholder distribution hedge		135	610
Repurchase of common shares made under repurchase program		0
Issuance of intercompany notes			(9,000)
Distribution to minority shareholder		(7,315)	(3,122)
Intercompany distributions		(83,532)	(32,354)
CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(66,187)	(29,268)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH		(2,808)	(1,341)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(30,489)	(6,065)
Balance, beginning of year		51,316	98,750
Balance, end of period		$ 20,827	$ 92,685