Quarterly Results for 2016 and 2015 (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Sales	$ 220,464	$ 171,421	$ 261,550	$ 134,843	$ 137,111	$ 151,657	$ 115,801	$ 140,305	$ 788,278	$ 544,874	$ 603,521
Cost of sales	161,918	116,624	138,194	107,971	114,132	116,044	103,689	107,234	524,707	441,099	483,860
Net Income	50,509	40,624	111,579	15,058	9,440	19,181	(2,860)	18,180	217,770	43,941	97,846
Income from continuing operations									217,770	43,941	54,443
Net Income attributable to Rayonier Inc.	$ 48,324	$ 39,355	$ 109,821	$ 14,472	$ 10,285	$ 19,669	$ (1,536)	$ 17,747	$ 211,972	$ 46,165	$ 99,337
Basic EPS attributable to Rayonier Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.32	$ 0.90	$ 0.12	$ 0.08	$ 0.16	$ (0.01)	$ 0.14	$ 1.73	$ 0.37	$ 0.78
Diluted EPS attributable to Rayonier Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.32	$ 0.89	$ 0.12	$ 0.08	$ 0.16	$ (0.01)	$ 0.14	$ 1.73	$ 0.37	$ 0.76