CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Condensed Consolidating Statements of (Loss) Income and Comprehensive (Loss) Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	$ 134,843	$ 140,305
Cost of sales	107,971	107,234
Selling and general expenses	9,779	10,898
Other operating (income) expense, net	(5,904)	(5,574)
Costs and Expenses, Total	111,846	112,558
OPERATING INCOME	22,997	27,747
Interest expense	(7,098)	(8,544)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(1,622)	(1,494)
Equity in income (loss) income from subsidiaries	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	14,277	17,709
Income tax (expense) benefit	781	471
NET INCOME	15,058	18,180	$ 43,941
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	586	433
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	14,472	17,747
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax benefit of $0 and $343	2,804	(14,323)	(32,451)
New Zealand joint venture cash flow hedges	(13,774)	(946)	(9,961)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	617	781	$ 2,933
Total other comprehensive loss	(10,353)	(14,488)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	4,705	3,692
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3,749)	(3,791)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	8,454	7,483
Consolidating Adjustments
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0
Other operating (income) expense, net	0	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	0	0
OPERATING INCOME	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	0	0
Equity in income (loss) income from subsidiaries	(34,570)	(43,778)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(34,570)	(43,778)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
NET INCOME	(34,570)	(43,778)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(34,570)	(43,778)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax benefit of $0 and $343	(7,288)	20,860
New Zealand joint venture cash flow hedges	13,923	1,230
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	(617)	(801)
Total other comprehensive loss	6,018	21,289
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(28,552)	(22,489)
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(28,552)	(22,489)
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Issuer)
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0
Other operating (income) expense, net	0	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	0	0
OPERATING INCOME	0	0
Interest expense	(3,139)	(3,168)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	2,038	1,936
Equity in income (loss) income from subsidiaries	15,573	18,979
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	14,472	17,747
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
NET INCOME	14,472	17,747
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	14,472	17,747
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax benefit of $0 and $343	7,288	(10,430)
New Zealand joint venture cash flow hedges	(13,923)	(615)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	617	781
Total other comprehensive loss	(6,018)	(10,264)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	8,454	7,483
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	8,454	7,483
Subsidiary Guarantors
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	2,938	4,949
Other operating (income) expense, net	(1,155)	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	1,783	4,949
OPERATING INCOME	(1,783)	(4,949)
Interest expense	(2,144)	(2,524)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	681	693
Equity in income (loss) income from subsidiaries	18,997	24,799
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	15,751	18,019
Income tax (expense) benefit	(178)	960
NET INCOME	15,573	18,979
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	15,573	18,979
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax benefit of $0 and $343	(4,606)	(10,430)
New Zealand joint venture cash flow hedges	(14,886)	(615)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	617	781
Total other comprehensive loss	(18,875)	(10,264)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(3,302)	8,715
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(3,302)	8,715
Non- guarantors
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES	134,843	140,305
Cost of sales	107,971	107,234
Selling and general expenses	6,841	5,949
Other operating (income) expense, net	(4,749)	(5,574)
Costs and Expenses, Total	110,063	107,609
OPERATING INCOME	24,780	32,696
Interest expense	(1,815)	(2,852)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(4,341)	(4,123)
Equity in income (loss) income from subsidiaries	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	18,624	25,721
Income tax (expense) benefit	959	(489)
NET INCOME	19,583	25,232
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	586	433
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	18,997	24,799
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax benefit of $0 and $343	7,410	(14,323)
New Zealand joint venture cash flow hedges	1,112	(946)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	0	20
Total other comprehensive loss	8,522	(15,249)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	28,105	9,983
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3,749)	(3,791)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	$ 31,854	$ 13,774