QUARTERLY RESULTS FOR 2019 and 2018 (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Sales	$ 178,793	$ 156,417	$ 184,800	$ 191,546	$ 166,146	$ 200,890	$ 245,906	$ 203,196	$ 711,556	$ 816,138	$ 819,596
Cost of sales	(140,182)	(134,463)	(140,454)	(143,251)	(139,092)	(143,261)	(184,418)	(138,488)	(558,350)	(605,259)	(568,253)
Net Income	17,437	1,528	20,920	27,793	4,647	30,639	39,338	42,706	67,678	117,330	161,579
Net Income attributable to Rayonier Inc.	$ 15,992	$ (433)	$ 18,752	$ 24,794	$ 1,987	$ 23,432	$ 36,258	$ 40,539	$ 59,105	$ 102,216	$ 148,842
Basic EPS attributable to Rayonier Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0	$ 0.14	$ 0.19	$ 0.02	$ 0.18	$ 0.28	$ 0.31	$ 0.46	$ 0.79	$ 1.17
Diluted EPS attributable to Rayonier Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0	$ 0.14	$ 0.19	$ 0.02	$ 0.18	$ 0.28	$ 0.31	$ 0.46	$ 0.79	$ 1.16