Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
SALES	$ 239,722	$ 184,419	$ 200,964	$ 194,491	$ 229,302	$ 176,867	$ 269,171	$ 140,575	$ 819,596	$ 815,915	$ 568,800
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	149,832	136,983	144,610	136,828	162,590	116,922	138,480	108,447	568,253	526,439	441,718
Selling and general expenses									40,245	42,785	45,750
Other operating (income) expense, net (Note 17)									(4,393)	(9,086)	3,548
Costs and Expenses, Total									604,105	560,138	491,016
OPERATING INCOME									215,491	255,777	77,784
Interest expense									(34,071)	(32,245)	(31,699)
Interest income and miscellaneous income (expense), net									1,840	(698)	(3,003)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									183,260	222,834	43,082
Income tax (expense) benefit (Note 9)									(21,681)	(5,064)	859
NET INCOME	66,920	28,803	30,773	35,083	50,509	40,624	111,579	15,058	161,579	217,770	43,941
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									12,737	5,798	(2,224)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	$ 64,150	$ 24,688	$ 26,161	$ 33,843	$ 48,324	$ 39,355	$ 109,821	$ 14,472	148,842	211,972	46,165
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $1,066									9,114	6,322	(32,451)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax effect of $594, $545 and $91									5,693	22,822	(9,961)
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $470									(208)	5,533	2,933
Total other comprehensive income									14,599	34,677	(39,479)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									176,178	252,447	4,462
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									14,775	9,555	(13,027)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									$ 161,403	$ 242,892	$ 17,489
Basic earnings per share attributable to Rayonier Inc.
Net Income, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.19	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.39	$ 0.32	$ 0.90	$ 0.12	$ 1.17	$ 1.73	$ 0.37
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Rayonier Inc.
Net income, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.19	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.39	$ 0.32	$ 0.89	$ 0.12	$ 1.16	$ 1.73	$ 0.37