Information by Segment and Geographic Area (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 3,046,018,000		$ 3,302,740,000		$ 3,038,678,000
Operating Income (Loss)		(174,790,000)		87,649,000		78,431,000
Total Assets	3,469,220,000	2,975,969,000		3,338,877,000		3,469,220,000
Depreciation and Amortization		272,117,000		310,441,000		315,239,000
Capital Expenditures		265,023,000		313,101,000		192,348,000
Interest income		3,676,000		2,751,000		2,668,000
Interest expense		(47,381,000)		(48,735,000)		(60,623,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income		(218,495,000)		41,665,000		20,476,000
2011/2012 Restructuring Program
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring charges				101,000,000
Segment operating income
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)		(166,895,000)		93,440,000		81,564,000
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,404,103,000		1,588,302,000		1,461,531,000
Operating Income (Loss)		85,523,000		109,593,000		117,915,000
Total Assets	1,541,117,000	1,561,973,000		1,537,538,000		1,541,117,000
Depreciation and Amortization		163,137,000		183,784,000		180,306,000
Capital Expenditures		189,358,000		212,009,000		123,153,000
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment | 2011/2012 Restructuring Program
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring charges		5,500,000	[1]	12,800,000	[1]
Harsco Infrastructure Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring charges	84,400,000
Revenues		937,293,000		1,108,293,000		1,031,807,000
Operating Income (Loss)		(368,657,000)		(125,555,000)		(145,346,000)
Total Assets	1,534,379,000	1,018,979,000		1,371,143,000		1,534,379,000
Depreciation and Amortization		89,814,000		107,621,000		114,861,000
Capital Expenditures		63,137,000		88,456,000		54,858,000
Harsco Infrastructure Segment | 2011/2012 Restructuring Program
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring charges		88,600,000	[1]	87,600,000	[1]
Harsco Rail Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		352,036,000		300,029,000		313,262,000
Operating Income (Loss)		56,079,000		58,746,000		66,124,000
Total Assets	208,338,000	188,348,000		213,410,000		208,338,000
Depreciation and Amortization		10,116,000		10,133,000		11,110,000
Capital Expenditures		4,133,000		4,497,000		9,498,000
Harsco Industrial Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		352,586,000		306,116,000		231,898,000
Operating Income (Loss)		60,160,000		50,656,000		42,871,000
Total Assets	58,918,000	81,035,000		80,784,000		58,918,000
Depreciation and Amortization		3,098,000		2,805,000		2,832,000
Capital Expenditures		3,669,000		4,938,000		1,722,000
General Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		0		0		180,000
Operating Income (Loss)		(7,895,000)		(5,791,000)		(3,133,000)
Total Assets	126,468,000	125,634,000		136,002,000		126,468,000
Depreciation and Amortization		5,952,000		6,098,000		6,130,000
Capital Expenditures		$ 4,726,000		$ 3,201,000		$ 3,117,000

[1] Includes principally the recognition of additional expenses due to timing considerations under U.S. GAAP, as well as adjustments to previously recorded restructuring charges resulting from changes in facts and circumstances in the implementation of these activities.