Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure [Member]	Sep. 15, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure [Member] Infrastructure Transaction Strategic Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Gas Technologies Divestiture	Dec. 31, 2012 Gas Technologies Divestiture	Dec. 31, 2011 Gas Technologies Divestiture
Acquisitions and Dispositions [Abstract]
Reduction of contingent consideration liabilities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 3,966,000
Net Income Attributable to the Company and Transfers to Noncontrolling Interest
Net loss attributable to the Company	(227,941,000)	(254,612,000)	(11,510,000)
Net increase in the Company's paid-in capital for changes to noncontrolling interests	711,000	0	0
Change from net loss attributable to the Company and changes to noncontrolling interest	(227,230,000)	(254,612,000)	(11,510,000)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Noncurrent Assets					109,000		109,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net					10,343,000		10,343,000
Insurance liabilities	41,879,000	63,248,000			2,210,000		2,210,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Inventory					5,898,000		5,898,000
Insurance liabilities	10,523,000	19,434,000			21,000		21,000
Other receivables	46,470,000	39,836,000			65,728,000		65,728,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accrued Income Taxes Payable					1,105,000		1,105,000
Trade Receivables Held-for-sale, Net					28,471,000		28,471,000
Accrued compensation	53,113,000	94,398,000			4,618,000		4,618,000
Cash and cash equivalents	93,605,000	95,250,000	121,184,000	124,238,000	1,290,000		1,290,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts Payable					4,143,000		4,143,000
Proceeds from Infrastructure transaction	303,039,000	0	0			300,000,000
Loss on disposal of Harsco Infrastructure Segment	271,296,000	0	0		30,000,000	241,300,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage								29.00%
Divestiture Of Businesses, Transaction Expenses							20,100,000
After-tax loss from discontinued operations	1,492,000	919,000	2,063,000						1,500,000	900,000	2,100,000
Assets held-for-sale, current					2,129,000		2,129,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Current Liabilities					97,079,000		97,079,000
Assets held-for-sale	113,968,000	2,399,000
Liabilities of assets held-for-sale	$ 109,176,000	$ 0