Shareholders' Equity Schedule of Stockholders Equity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					$ 1,755,243							$ 1,438,004		$ 1,755,243		$ 1,438,004		$ 1,323,073
Net income	8,336		32,059	16,108	41,343		79,805		58,367	87,891	[1]	147,735	[2]	97,846		373,798	[1],[2]	278,685
Dividends ($1.68, $1.86, and $2.03 per share in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively)														(256,861)		(233,321)		(208,286)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans														5,579		10,101		25,495
Stock-based compensation														7,869		11,710		15,116
Excell tax benefit (deficiency) on stock-based compensation														(791)		8,413		7,635
Repurchase of common shares														(1,858)		(11,326)		(7,783)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax														(24,147)
Net loss from pension and postretirement plans														54,046		61,869		(496)
Foreign currency translation adjustment														(15,847)		(5,710)		4,352
Joint venture cash flow hedges														(1,855)		3,629		213
Equity portion of convertible debt (Note 13)																2,453
Settlement of warrants (Note 13)																0
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest																96,336
Noncontrolling interest redemption of shares														(931)		(713)
Contribution to Rayonier Advanced Materials														19,130
Adjustments to Rayonier Advanced Materials														(8,226)	[3]
Ending balance	1,575,151						1,755,243							1,575,151		1,755,243		1,438,004
Dividends (per share)														$ 2.03		$ 1.86		$ 1.68
Common Shares [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)					126,257,870	[4]						123,332,444	[4]	126,257,870	[4]	123,332,444	[4]	122,035,177	[4]
Beginning balance					692,100							670,749		692,100		670,749		630,286
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, (in shares)														561,701	[4]	1,001,426	[4]	1,467,024	[4]
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans														5,579		10,101		25,495
Stock-based compensation														7,869		11,710		15,116
Excell tax benefit (deficiency) on stock-based compensation														(791)		8,413		7,635
Repurchase of common shares, (in shares)														(46,474)	[4]	(211,221)	[4]	(169,757)	[4]
Repurchase of common shares														(1,858)		(11,326)		(7,783)
Equity portion of convertible debt (Note 13)																2,453
Settlement of warrants (Note 13)																2,135,221	[4]
Contribution to Rayonier Advanced Materials														(301)
Ending balance (in shares)	126,773,097	[4]					126,257,870	[4]						126,773,097	[4]	126,257,870	[4]	123,332,444	[4]
Ending balance	702,598						692,100							702,598		692,100		670,749
Retained Earnings [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					1,015,209							876,634		1,015,209		876,634		806,235
Net income														99,337		371,896		278,685
Dividends ($1.68, $1.86, and $2.03 per share in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively)														(256,861)		(233,321)		(208,286)
Contribution to Rayonier Advanced Materials														(61,318)
Adjustments to Rayonier Advanced Materials														(5,670)	[3]
Ending balance	790,697						1,015,209							790,697		1,015,209		876,634
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					(46,139)							(109,379)		(46,139)		(109,379)		(113,448)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax														24,147
Net loss from pension and postretirement plans																61,869		(496)
Foreign currency translation adjustment														(11,526)		(1,915)		4,352
Joint venture cash flow hedges														(1,206)		3,286		213
Contribution to Rayonier Advanced Materials														80,749
Adjustments to Rayonier Advanced Materials														(2,556)	[3]
Ending balance	(4,825)						(46,139)							(4,825)		(46,139)		(109,379)
Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					94,073							0		94,073		0				0
Net income														(1,491)		1,902
Foreign currency translation adjustment														(4,321)		(3,795)
Joint venture cash flow hedges														(649)		343
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest																96,336
Noncontrolling interest redemption of shares														931		(713)
Ending balance	$ 86,681						$ 94,073							$ 86,681		$ 94,073				$ 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Par value	$ 0													$ 0

[1] Income from continuing operations, Net income and Net income attributable to Rayonier Inc., for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 and year ended December 31, 2013, included a $16 million gain related to the consolidation of the New Zealand JV.

[2] Income from discontinued operations, Net income and Net income attributable to Rayonier Inc. included a $43 million gain on the sale of Wood Products for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2013.

[3] Primarily relates to adjustments made to the Rayonier Advanced Materials contribution as income taxes and pension and postretirement plan assets and obligations were finalized.

[4] The Company’s common shares are registered in North Carolina and have a $0.00 par value.