Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure Segment	Mar. 31, 2014 Harsco Infrastructure Segment	Dec. 31, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure Segment	Mar. 31, 2014 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Infrastructure Transaction Strategic Venture [Member]	Nov. 26, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Infrastructure Transaction Strategic Venture [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the Infrastructure transaction	$ 3,296,000	$ 0	$ 300,000,000
Percentage of equity interest in the strategic venture entered into as a result of the transaction						29.00%	29.00%
Impairment of long-lived assets recorded as a result of the transaction	699,000	0		700,000	271,300,000
Transaction related expenses				$ 1,400,000