Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 28, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TEJON RANCH CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000096869
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		20,823,789
Trading Symbol	TRC
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Public Float			$ 404,004,456