CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ 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
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
SALES (NOTE 2)	$ 178,793	$ 156,417	$ 184,800	$ 191,546	$ 166,146	$ 200,890	$ 245,906	$ 203,196	$ 711,556	$ 816,138	$ 819,596
Costs and Expenses
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)
Selling and general expenses									(41,646)	(41,951)	(40,245)
Other operating (expense) income, net (Note 18)									(4,533)	1,140	4,393
Costs and Expenses									(604,529)	(646,070)	(604,105)
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME									107,027	170,068	215,491
Interest expense									(31,716)	(32,066)	(34,071)
Interest and other miscellaneous income, net									5,307	4,564	1,840
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									80,618	142,566	183,260
Income tax expense (Note 10)									(12,940)	(25,236)	(21,681)
NET INCOME	17,437	1,528	20,920	27,793	4,647	30,639	39,338	42,706	67,678	117,330	161,579
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									(8,573)	(15,114)	(12,737)
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
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect of $0, $0 and $0									963	(22,759)	9,114
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax									(30,482)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax effect of $1,270 and $594										5,029	5,693
Actuarial change and amortization of pension and postretirement plan liabilities, net of income tax effect of $0, $711 and $0									(1,350)	(1,630)	(208)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income									(30,869)	(19,360)	14,599
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									36,809	97,970	176,178
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest									(9,146)	(8,931)	(14,775)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.									$ 27,663	$ 89,039	$ 161,403
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (NOTE 13)
Basic earnings per share 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 earnings per share 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