Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 419,977	$ 402,016	$ 1,254,617	$ 1,041,473
Costs and expenses:
Cost of operations	342,055	313,646	1,011,414	827,224
Research and development costs	3,977	4,502	12,457	12,795
Losses on asset disposals and impairments, net	10	19	9,037	1,476
Selling, general and administrative expenses	62,637	58,414	178,539	160,666
Restructuring and spin transaction costs	2,713	2,752	11,279	11,743
Total costs and expenses	411,392	379,333	1,222,726	1,013,904
Equity in income of investees	1,047	2,859	(57)	5,658
Operating income	9,632	25,542	31,834	33,227
Other income (expense):
Interest income	138	242	420	919
Interest expense	(389)	(181)	(673)	(385)
Other – net	(1,326)	63	(1,436)	1,617
Total other income (expense)	(1,577)	124	(1,689)	2,151
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	8,055	25,666	30,145	35,378
Provision for income taxes	1,770	12,894	8,381	13,727
Income from continuing operations	6,285	12,772	21,764	21,651
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(7,102)	2,803	237
Net income	6,285	5,670	24,567	21,888
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(116)	(61)	(222)	(254)
Net Income attributable to Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.	6,169	5,609	24,345	21,634
Amounts attributable to Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.
Income from continuing operations	6,169	12,711	21,542	21,397
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(7,102)	2,803	237
Net Income attributable to Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.	$ 6,169	$ 5,609	$ 24,345	$ 21,634
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (usd per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.24	$ 0.40	$ 0.39
Discontinued operations (usd per share)	0.00	(0.14)	0.05	0.01
Basic earnings per common share (usd per share)	0.11	0.10	0.45	0.40
Diluted earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (usd per share)	0.11	0.24	0.40	0.39
Discontinued operations (usd per share)	0.00	(0.14)	0.05	0.01
Diluted earnings per common share (usd per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.10	$ 0.45	$ 0.40
Shares used in the computation of earnings per common share:
Basic (shares)	53,758	53,553	53,569	54,552
Diluted (shares)	53,787	53,722	53,716	54,741