Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 5,541	$ 5,013	$ 18,282	$ 16,218
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Currency translation adjustments	2,214	(531)	(8,709)	(7,141)
Derivative financial instruments:
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, net of tax (provision) benefit of $604, $(289), $778 and $50, respectively	(2,004)	833	(2,219)	(142)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax provision (benefit) of $115, $234, $(568) and $13, respectively	(338)	(679)	1,578	(47)
Benefit obligations:
Amortization of benefit plan costs, net of tax benefit of $(49), $(89), $(92) and $(177), respectively	66	186	137	372
Investments:
Unrealized gains arising during the period, net of tax provision of $(5), $0, $(5) and $(4), respectively	11	1	10	9
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax provision (benefit) of $(1), $0, $(1) and $5, respectively	1		2	(10)
Other comprehensive loss	(50)	(190)	(9,201)	(6,959)
Total comprehensive income	5,491	4,823	9,081	9,259
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(61)	(79)	(131)	(189)
Comprehensive income attributable to Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.	$ 5,430	$ 4,744	$ 8,950	$ 9,070