Earnings Per Common Share - Schedule of Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
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
Shares used for determining basic earnings per common share (in shares)									127,367,608	122,585,200	125,385,085
Dilutive effect of:
Stock options (in shares)									91,956	92,473	116,792
Performance and restricted shares (in shares)									350,385	134,650	39,863
Assumed conversion of Senior Exchangeable Notes (in shares)									0	0	358,449
Assumed conversion of warrants (in shares)									0	0	0
Shares used for determining diluted earnings per common share (in shares)									127,809,949	122,812,323	125,900,189
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Rayonier Inc (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 common share attributable to Rayonier Inc (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