Restructuring Programs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Restructuring accrual related activity
Proceeds from asset sales under the 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	$ 10,595,000		$ 22,488,000
2011/2012 Restructuring Program
Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	403,000
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	23,005,000
Cash Expenditures	(7,651,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	(527,000)
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period	14,424,000
Incremental Restructuring Savings	8,000,000
2011/2012 Restructuring Program | Harsco Infrastructure Segment
Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	398,000	[1]
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	15,999,000	[1]
Cash Expenditures	(4,929,000)	[1]
Foreign Currency Translation	(370,000)	[1]
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period	10,302,000	[1]
Proceeds from asset sales under the 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	300,000
2011/2012 Restructuring Program | Harsco Infrastructure Segment | Employee termination benefit costs
Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	94,000
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	6,999,000
Cash Expenditures	(3,300,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	(240,000)
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period	3,365,000
2011/2012 Restructuring Program | Harsco Infrastructure Segment | Cost to exit activities
Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	304,000
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	9,000,000
Cash Expenditures	(1,629,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	(130,000)
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period	6,937,000
Remaining portion of restructuring accrual related to exit activity costs for lease terminations expected to be paid over the remaining life of the leases	6,500,000
2011/2012 Restructuring Program | Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	0
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	6,993,000
Cash Expenditures	(2,719,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	(157,000)
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period	4,117,000
2011/2012 Restructuring Program | Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment | Employee termination benefit costs
Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	0
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	6,494,000
Cash Expenditures	(2,653,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	(144,000)
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period	3,697,000
2011/2012 Restructuring Program | Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment | Cost to exit activities
Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	0
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	499,000
Cash Expenditures	(66,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	(13,000)
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period	420,000
2011/2012 Restructuring Program | Corporate [Member] | Employee termination benefit costs
Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	5,000
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	13,000
Cash Expenditures	(3,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	0
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period	5,000
2011/2012 Restructuring Program | Minimum
Restructuring Programs
Overall cost savings expected in 2013	63,000,000
Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program
Restructuring accrual related activity
Remaining amount of accrual expected to be paid related to multiemployer plan withdrawal liabilities through 2023	6,200,000
Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program | Harsco Infrastructure Segment | Cost to exit activities
Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	96,000
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	6,791,000
Cash Expenditures	(180,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	(1,000)
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period	$ 6,706,000

[1] The table does not include $0.3 million of proceeds from asset sales under the 2011/2012 Restructuring Program for this Segment as this item did not impact the restructuring accrual during the three months ended March 31, 2013.