Review of Operations by Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Operations by segment
Loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs	$ 3,415,000		$ 0		$ 5,553,000		$ 0
Revenues from continuing operations	534,577,000		759,736,000		1,047,276,000		1,475,131,000
Operating income from continuing operations	6,236,000		50,847,000		38,575,000		76,632,000
Interest income	410,000		830,000		707,000		1,236,000
Interest expense	(11,958,000)		(12,855,000)		(23,379,000)		(24,598,000)
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability	(2,473,000)		0		(5,019,000)		0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income (loss)	(7,785,000)		38,822,000		10,884,000		53,270,000
Total reportable segments
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	21,717,000		60,826,000		67,005,000		95,790,000
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	360,994,000		336,146,000		714,032,000		673,470,000
Operating income from continuing operations	(9,238,000)		27,053,000		13,980,000		50,282,000
Harsco Infrastructure Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	0		251,172,000		0		467,231,000
Operating income from continuing operations	0		2,288,000		0		(4,764,000)
Harsco Rail Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	70,578,000		78,646,000		128,139,000		150,212,000
Operating income from continuing operations	13,526,000		15,932,000		19,025,000		19,110,000
Harsco Industrial Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	103,005,000		93,772,000		205,105,000		184,218,000
Operating income from continuing operations	17,429,000		15,553,000		34,000,000		31,162,000
Corporate [Member]
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	(15,481,000)	[1]	(9,979,000)	[1]	(28,430,000)	[1]	(19,158,000)	[1]
Pension Expense	$ 1,500,000				$ 2,900,000

[1] (a) For the three months ended June 30, 2014, Corporate includes a $3.4 million loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs and $1.5 million of net periodic pension cost for defined benefit pension plans retained by the Company as part of the Infrastructure Transaction. For the six months ended June 30, 2014, Corporate includes a $5.6 million loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs and $2.9 million of net periodic pension cost for defined benefit pension plans retained by the Company as part of the Infrastructure Transaction.