Cover - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	May 06, 2021
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36876
Entity Registrant Name	BABCOCK & WILCOX ENTERPRISES, INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	47-2783641
Entity Address, Address Line One	1200 East Market Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 650
Entity Address, City or Town	Akron
Entity Address, State or Province	OH
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	44305
City Area Code	(330)
Local Phone Number	753-4511
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		85,727,419
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Central Index Key	0001630805
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	BW
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
8.125% Senior Notes Due 2026
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	8.125% Senior Notes due 2026
Trading Symbol	BWSN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
7.75% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	7.75% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	BW PRA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE