CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Rayonier Limited Partnership	Units General Partners’ Capital Rayonier Limited Partnership	Units Limited Partners’ Capital Rayonier Limited Partnership	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Rayonier Limited Partnership	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates Rayonier Limited Partnership	Common Shares	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019								129,331,069
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 1,537,642						$ 888,177	$ 583,006	$ (31,202)	$ 97,661
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		26,421							25,854		567
Dividends ($0.27 per share)		(34,813)							(34,813)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)								2,407
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans		66						$ 66
Stock-based compensation		1,510						$ 1,510
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)								(152,237)
Repurchase of common shares		(3,152)							(3,152)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities		217	$ 217			$ 217				217
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(44,023)	(44,023)			(33,894)	$ (10,129)			(33,894)	(10,129)
Cash flow hedges		(83,475)	(83,475)			(82,376)	(1,099)			(82,376)	(1,099)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(725)	(725)				(725)				(725)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020								129,181,239
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020		1,399,668						$ 889,753	570,895	(147,255)	86,275
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019								129,331,069
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019		1,537,642						$ 888,177	583,006	(31,202)	97,661
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(195)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities		652	652
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(8,290)	(8,290)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020								136,518,006
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020		1,851,148						$ 1,065,188	485,636	(121,605)	421,929
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020								129,181,239
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2020		1,399,668						$ 889,753	570,895	(147,255)	86,275
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		455							1,954		(1,499)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(219)							(219)
Dividends ($0.27 per share)	[1]	(36,957)							(36,957)
Issuances of shares associated with the merger with Pope Resources (in shares)								7,181,071
Issuances of shares associated with the merger with Pope Resources		172,418						$ 172,418
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)								215,970
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans		222						$ 222
Stock-based compensation		2,668						$ 2,668
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)								(66,168)
Repurchase of common shares		(1,572)						$ (1,572)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		372,381	372,381				372,381				372,381
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(3,992)							(3,992)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities		217	217			217				217
Foreign currency translation adjustment		23,258	23,258			17,872	5,386			17,872	5,386
Cash flow hedges		(7,276)	(7,276)			(8,306)	1,030			(8,306)	1,030
Allocation of other comprehensive income (loss) to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(457)								(457)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(6,856)	(6,856)				(6,856)				(6,856)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020								136,512,112
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020		1,913,958						$ 1,063,489	531,681	(137,929)	456,717
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(9,498)							(783)		(8,715)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		25							25
Dividends ($0.27 per share)	[1]	(37,257)							(37,257)
Costs associated with the “At-the-Market” (ATM) offering program		(456)	(456)	$ (5)	$ (451)			$ (456)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)								6,079
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans		167						$ 167
Stock-based compensation		1,965						$ 1,965
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)								(1,185)
Repurchase of common shares		(4)						$ (4)
Measurement period adjustment of noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(701)	(701)				(701)				(701)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(8,030)							(8,030)
Conversion of common units to common shares (in shares)								1,000
Conversion of units into common shares		27						$ 27
Amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities		217	217			217				217
Foreign currency translation adjustment		12,476	12,476			9,160	3,316			9,160	3,316
Cash flow hedges		7,861	7,861			7,479	382			7,479	382
Allocation of other comprehensive income (loss) to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(532)								(532)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(667)	(667)				(667)				(667)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates redemption of shares		(28,403)	(28,403)				(28,403)				(28,403)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020								136,518,006
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020		1,851,148						$ 1,065,188	485,636	(121,605)	421,929
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020								137,678,822
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020		1,862,645						$ 1,101,675	446,267	(73,885)	388,588
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		15,032							11,189		3,843
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(341)							(341)
Dividends ($0.27 per share)	[1]	(37,532)							(37,532)
Issuance of shares under the “at-the-market” equity offering, net of commissions and offering costs of $381 (in shares)								1,107,814
Issuance of shares under the “at-the-market” equity offering, net of commissions and offering costs of $197		36,708						$ 36,708
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)								39,140
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans		1,166						$ 1,166
Stock-based compensation		2,156						$ 2,156
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)								(5,020)
Repurchase of common shares		(155)						$ (155)
Measurement period adjustment of noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		655	655				655				655
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(11,867)							(11,867)
Conversion of common units to common shares (in shares)								150,134
Conversion of units into common shares		4,715						$ 4,715
Amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities		294	294			294				294
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(14,288)	(14,288)			(11,652)	(2,636)			(11,652)	(2,636)
Cash flow hedges		61,001	61,001			61,628	(627)			61,628	(627)
Allocation of other comprehensive income (loss) to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(1,531)								(1,531)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(8,737)	(8,737)				(8,737)				(8,737)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021								138,970,890
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2021		1,909,921						$ 1,146,265	407,716	(25,146)	381,086
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020								137,678,822
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020		1,862,645						$ 1,101,675	446,267	(73,885)	388,588
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(4,303)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities		881	881
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(19,670)	(19,670)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021								143,049,458
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2021		1,792,460						$ 1,296,877	450,076	(36,560)	82,067
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021								138,970,890
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2021		1,909,921						$ 1,146,265	407,716	(25,146)	381,086
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		63,420							58,959		4,461
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(1,753)							(1,753)
Dividends ($0.27 per share)	[1]	(37,981)							(37,981)
Issuance of shares under the “at-the-market” equity offering, net of commissions and offering costs of $381 (in shares)								2,199,459
Issuance of shares under the “at-the-market” equity offering, net of commissions and offering costs of $197		79,994						$ 79,994
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)								185,544
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans		3,325						$ 3,325
Stock-based compensation		2,852						$ 2,852
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)								(42,425)
Repurchase of common shares		(1,453)						$ (1,453)
Measurement period adjustment of noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		9,034	9,034				9,034				9,034
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(15,410)							(15,410)
Conversion of common units to common shares (in shares)								6,439
Conversion of units into common shares		241						$ 241
Amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities		294	294			294				294
Foreign currency translation adjustment		1,239	1,239			1,025	214			1,025	214
Cash flow hedges		(10,019)	(10,019)			(9,833)	(186)			(9,833)	(186)
Allocation of other comprehensive income (loss) to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		253								253
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(6,474)	(6,474)				(6,474)				(6,474)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021								141,319,907
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2021		1,997,483						$ 1,231,224	411,531	(33,407)	388,135
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		110,512							78,041		32,471
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(2,210)							(2,210)
Dividends ($0.27 per share)	[1]	(39,032)							(39,032)
Issuance of shares under the “at-the-market” equity offering, net of commissions and offering costs of $381 (in shares)								1,390,968
Issuance of shares under the “at-the-market” equity offering, net of commissions and offering costs of $197		51,132						$ 51,132
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)								5,740
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans		183						$ 183
Stock-based compensation		2,086						$ 2,086
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)								(175)
Repurchase of common shares		(6)						$ (6)
Disposition of noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(255,486)	(255,486)				(255,486)				(255,486)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		1,746							1,746
Conversion of common units to common shares (in shares)								333,018
Conversion of units into common shares		12,258						$ 12,258
Amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities		294	294			294				294
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(6,622)	(6,622)			(5,743)	(879)			(5,743)	(879)
Cash flow hedges		1,711	1,711			$ 2,204	(493)			2,204	(493)
Allocation of other comprehensive income (loss) to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		92								92
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(53,562)	(53,562)				(53,562)				(53,562)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates redemption of shares		(28,119)	$ (28,119)				$ (28,119)				(28,119)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021								143,049,458
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2021		$ 1,792,460						$ 1,296,877	$ 450,076	$ (36,560)	$ 82,067

[1] For information regarding distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership, see the Rayonier Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and Note 6 — Noncontrolling Interests