Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 02, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TEJON RANCH CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000096869
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		20,082,157
Trading Symbol	TRC