CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Income and Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	$ 191,546	$ 203,196
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	(143,251)	(138,488)
Selling and general expenses	(9,810)	(9,003)
Other operating (loss) income, net	35	1,369
Costs and Expenses, Total	(153,026)	(146,122)
OPERATING INCOME	38,520	57,074
Interest expense	(7,710)	(8,052)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	1,332	620
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	32,142	49,642
Income tax expense	(4,349)	(6,936)
NET INCOME	27,793	42,706
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,999)	(2,167)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	24,794	40,539
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	6,033	9,688
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(10,686)	16,615
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	112	159
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(4,541)	26,462
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	23,252	69,168
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(4,551)	(4,483)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	18,701	64,685
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0
Other operating (loss) income, 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 from subsidiaries	(65,821)	(89,891)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(65,821)	(89,891)
Income tax expense	0	0
NET INCOME	(65,821)	(89,891)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(65,821)	(89,891)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(4,678)	(7,606)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	10,884	(16,381)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	(112)	(159)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	6,094	(24,146)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(59,727)	(114,037)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(59,727)	(114,037)
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Issuer) | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0
Other operating (loss) income, net	0	(13)
Costs and Expenses, Total	0	(13)
OPERATING INCOME	0	(13)
Interest expense	(3,138)	(3,139)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(457)	2,628
Equity in income from subsidiaries	28,389	41,063
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	24,794	40,539
Income tax expense	0	0
NET INCOME	24,794	40,539
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	24,794	40,539
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	4,679	7,606
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(10,884)	16,381
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	112	159
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(6,093)	24,146
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	18,701	64,685
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	18,701	64,685
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	(4,843)	(4,389)
Other operating (loss) income, net	0	635
Costs and Expenses, Total	(4,843)	(3,754)
OPERATING INCOME	(4,843)	(3,754)
Interest expense	(4,547)	(4,653)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	964	765
Equity in income from subsidiaries	37,432	48,828
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	29,006	41,186
Income tax expense	(617)	(123)
NET INCOME	28,389	41,063
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	28,389	41,063
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(90)	111
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(11,548)	15,598
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	112	159
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(11,526)	15,868
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	16,863	56,931
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	16,863	56,931
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
SALES	191,546	203,196
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	(143,251)	(138,488)
Selling and general expenses	(4,967)	(4,614)
Other operating (loss) income, net	35	747
Costs and Expenses, Total	(148,183)	(142,355)
OPERATING INCOME	43,363	60,841
Interest expense	(25)	(260)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	825	(2,773)
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	44,163	57,808
Income tax expense	(3,732)	(6,813)
NET INCOME	40,431	50,995
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,999)	(2,167)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	37,432	48,828
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	6,122	9,577
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	862	1,017
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	0	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	6,984	10,594
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	47,415	61,589
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(4,551)	(4,483)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	$ 42,864	$ 57,106