Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 15, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure Segment	Sep. 30, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure Segment		Sep. 30, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment	Sep. 15, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Strategic venture with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Amount received in exchange for the equity interests in, and assets of, Harsco Infrastructure Segment				$ 300,000,000
Percentage of equity interest in the strategic venture entered into as a result of the transaction								29.00%
Impairment of long-lived assets recorded as a result of the transaction	241,323,000	0			241,300,000
Assets held-for-sale:
Trade accounts receivable, net					264,310,000
Other receivables	29,627,000		39,836,000		13,206,000
Inventories					68,064,000
Other current assets					20,024,000
Property, plant and equipment, net					334,967,000
Intangible assets, net					6,461,000
Other assets (a)					7,954,000	[1]
Total assets held-for-sale					714,986,000		200,000
Liabilities of assets held-for-sale:
Accounts payable					66,759,000
Accrued compensation	53,788,000		94,398,000		33,334,000
Income taxes payable					2,663,000
Insurance liabilities - current portion	13,640,000		19,434,000		7,587,000
Other current liabilities					42,872,000
Insurance liabilities - non-current portion	42,003,000		63,248,000		18,465,000
Retirement plan liabilities					41,916,000
Other liabilities					4,450,000
Total liabilities held-for-sale					218,046,000
Transaction related expenses					$ 12,400,000

[1] Includes assets held-for-sale of the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment totaling $0.2 million at September 30, 2013.