Review of Operations by Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Operations by segment
Loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs	$ 2,138,000		$ 0
Revenues from continuing operations	512,699,000		715,395,000
Operating income from continuing operations	32,339,000		25,785,000
Interest income	297,000		406,000
Interest expense	(11,421,000)		(11,743,000)
Change in fair value to unit adjustment liability	(2,546,000)		0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss	18,669,000		14,448,000
Total reportable segments
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	45,288,000		34,964,000
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	353,038,000		337,324,000
Operating income from continuing operations	23,218,000		23,229,000
Harsco Infrastructure Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	0		216,059,000
Operating income from continuing operations	0		(7,052,000)
Harsco Rail Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	57,561,000		71,566,000
Operating income from continuing operations	5,499,000		3,178,000
Harsco Industrial Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	102,100,000		90,446,000
Operating income from continuing operations	16,571,000		15,609,000
Corporate [Member]
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	(12,949,000)	[1]	(9,179,000)	[1]
Pension Expense	$ 1,400,000

[1] (a) For the three months ended March 31, 2014, Corporate includes a $2.1 million loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs and $1.4 million of net periodic pension cost for defined benefit pension plans retained by the Company as part of the Infrastructure transaction.