Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2013 Infrastructure transaction	Mar. 31, 2013 Losses in certain jurisdictions that the Company determined it is more likely than not that these assets will not be realized	Dec. 31, 2013 Expiring in 2018	Dec. 31, 2013 International operations	Dec. 31, 2012 International operations United Kingdom 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	Mar. 31, 2013 International operations United Kingdom Pension and currency translation adjustments recorded through AOCI	Dec. 31, 2013 International operations Europe, Asia and Middle East	Dec. 31, 2012 International operations Europe, Asia and Middle East	Dec. 31, 2011 International operations Europe, Asia and Middle East	Dec. 31, 2013 U.S. state	Dec. 31, 2013 U.S. state Expiring between 2013 and 2017	Dec. 31, 2013 U.S. state Expiring between 2018 and 2022	Dec. 31, 2013 U.S. state Expiring between 2023 and 2027	Dec. 31, 2013 U.S. state Expiring between 2028 and 2032
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income
United States	$ (26,855,000)	$ 40,411,000	$ 47,680,000
International	(156,477,000)	(258,906,000)	(6,015,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	(183,332,000)	(218,495,000)	41,665,000
Currently payable:
U.S. federal	10,949,000	22,603,000	4,249,000
U.S. state	1,375,000	1,561,000	913,000
International	41,015,000	21,795,000	23,860,000
Total income taxes currently payable	53,339,000	45,959,000	29,022,000
Deferred U.S. federal	(17,341,000)	(3,831,000)	670,000
Deferred U.S. state	401,000	(843,000)	503,000
Deferred international	(1,487,000)	(6,034,000)	19,653,000
Total income tax expense	34,912,000	35,251,000	49,848,000
Cash payments for income taxes, including taxes on gain or loss from discontinued business	44,400,000	42,600,000	42,300,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
U.S. federal income tax rate (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
U.S. state income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit (as a percent)	0.50%	(0.10%)	2.90%
U.S. domestic manufacturing deductions and credits (as a percent)	2.60%	1.70%	(9.60%)
Change in permanent reinvestment assertion (as a percent)	(7.20%)	0.00%	0.00%
Difference in effective tax rates on international earnings and remittances (as a percent)	0.20%	(0.70%)	(11.70%)
Uncertain tax position contingencies and settlements (as a percent)	3.00%	2.50%	(18.00%)
Changes in realization on beginning of the year deferred tax assets (as a percent)	(11.00%)	(1.80%)	89.10%
Restructuring charges with no realizable tax benefits (as a percent)	0.00%	(9.80%)	23.00%
U.S. nondeductible items (as a percent)	(1.60%)	(0.70%)	6.00%
Loss from disposal from the Infrastructure transaction	(40.90%)	0.00%	0.00%
Non-deductible goodwill impairment	0.00%	(42.50%)	0.00%
Cumulative effect of change in statutory tax rates/laws (as a percent)	0.30%	0.10%	3.50%
Other, net (as a percent)	0.10%	0.20%	(0.60%)
Effective income tax rate (as a percent)	(19.00%)	(16.10%)	119.60%
Estimated loss on disposal of Harsco Infrastructure Segment	271,300,000
Goodwill impairment charge	0	265,038,000	0
Changes in realization on beginning of the year deferred tax assets	37,300,000
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Abstract]
Expense accruals	28,550,000	38,595,000
Inventories	3,592,000	2,649,000
Provision for receivables	752,000	1,677,000
Operating loss carryforwards	86,236,000	99,475,000					77,400,000						8,800,000	200,000	3,600,000	2,100,000	2,900,000
Foreign tax credit carryforwards	16,085,000	24,223,000
Capital loss carryforwards	3,177,000					3,200,000
Pensions	81,564,000	104,413,000
Currency adjustments	27,536,000	26,661,000
Unit adjustment liability	39,335,000
Post-retirement benefits	1,013,000	1,160,000
Other	6,159,000	25,324,000
Deferred tax assets, gross	293,999,000	324,177,000
Valuation allowance	(127,164,000)	(126,532,000)
Deferred tax assets, net	166,835,000	197,645,000
Depreciation and amortization	35,378,000	99,219,000
Deferred revenue	1,764,000	2,014,000
Equity investment in Infrastructure strategic venture	28,965,000
Deferred tax liabilities	66,107,000	101,233,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Classification [Abstract]
Other current assets	44,315,000	45,672,000
Other assets	65,105,000	70,271,000
Other current liabilities	475,000	651,000
Deferred income taxes	8,217,000	18,880,000
Operating loss carryforwards not subject to expiration							55,500,000
Operating losses subject to expiration							21,900,000
Non-cash tax expense				9,400,000	7,100,000			6,100,000	15,800,000
Undistributed earnings indefinitely reinvested outside United States	815,000,000	882,000,000
One-time cost associated with repatriation of undistributed earnings indefinitely reinvested outside United States	159,000,000
Reduction in income tax expense due to tax holidays										$ 0	$ 0	$ 100,000