Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Nov. 06, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001630805
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Common Stock (in shares)		52,009,498
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Interactive Data, Current	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false