CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Income and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES (NOTE 2)	$ 259,130	$ 191,546
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	(209,499)	(143,251)
Selling and general expenses	(9,968)	(9,810)
Other operating (expense) income, net	(1,111)	35
Costs and Expenses, Total	(220,578)	(153,026)
OPERATING INCOME	38,552	38,520
Interest expense	(8,216)	(7,710)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(209)	1,332
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	30,127	32,142
Income tax expense	(3,706)	(4,349)
NET INCOME	26,421	27,793
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(567)	(2,999)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	25,854	24,794
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(44,023)	6,033
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(83,475)	(10,686)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	217	112
Total other comprehensive loss	(127,281)	(4,541)
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	(100,860)	23,252
Less: Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	10,661	(4,551)
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(90,199)	18,701
Consolidating Adjustments
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES (NOTE 2)	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0
Other operating (expense) 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	(71,259)	(65,821)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(71,259)	(65,821)
Income tax expense	0	0
NET INCOME	(71,259)	(65,821)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(71,259)	(65,821)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	33,894	(4,678)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	82,376	10,884
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	(217)	(112)
Total other comprehensive loss	116,053	6,094
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	44,794	(59,727)
Less: Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	44,794	(59,727)
Rayonier Inc. (Parent Issuer) | Reportable Legal Entities
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES (NOTE 2)	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	0	0
Other operating (expense) income, net	0	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	0	0
OPERATING INCOME	0	0
Interest expense	(3,139)	(3,138)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(457)	(457)
Equity in income from subsidiaries	29,450	28,389
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	25,854	24,794
Income tax expense	0	0
NET INCOME	25,854	24,794
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	25,854	24,794
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(33,894)	4,679
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(82,376)	(10,884)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	217	112
Total other comprehensive loss	(116,053)	(6,093)
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	(90,199)	18,701
Less: Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(90,199)	18,701
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES (NOTE 2)	0	0
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling and general expenses	(5,060)	(4,843)
Other operating (expense) income, net	(2,524)	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	(7,584)	(4,843)
OPERATING INCOME	(7,584)	(4,843)
Interest expense	(5,063)	(4,547)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	500	964
Equity in income from subsidiaries	41,809	37,432
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	29,662	29,006
Income tax expense	(212)	(617)
NET INCOME	29,450	28,389
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	29,450	28,389
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	0	(90)
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(78,699)	(11,548)
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	217	112
Total other comprehensive loss	(78,482)	(11,526)
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	(49,032)	16,863
Less: Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	(49,032)	16,863
Non- guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities
Income Statement [Abstract]
SALES (NOTE 2)	259,130	191,546
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales	(209,499)	(143,251)
Selling and general expenses	(4,908)	(4,967)
Other operating (expense) income, net	1,413	35
Costs and Expenses, Total	(212,994)	(148,183)
OPERATING INCOME	46,136	43,363
Interest expense	(14)	(25)
Interest and miscellaneous income (expense), net	(252)	825
Equity in income from subsidiaries	0	0
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	45,870	44,163
Income tax expense	(3,494)	(3,732)
NET INCOME	42,376	40,431
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(567)	(2,999)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	41,809	37,432
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	(44,023)	6,122
Cash flow hedges, net of income tax	(4,776)	862
Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax	0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	(48,799)	6,984
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	(6,423)	47,415
Less: Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	10,661	(4,551)
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO RAYONIER INC.	$ 4,238	$ 42,864