Review of Operations by Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Operations by segment
Loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs	$ 54,000		$ 253,677,000		$ 5,607,000		$ 253,677,000
Revenues from continuing operations	526,377,000		740,045,000		1,573,653,000		2,215,176,000
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	45,738,000		(208,377,000)		84,313,000		(131,745,000)
Interest income	555,000		388,000		1,262,000		1,624,000
Interest expense	(11,949,000)		(12,815,000)		(35,328,000)		(37,413,000)
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability	(2,398,000)		0		(7,417,000)		0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	31,946,000		(220,804,000)		42,830,000		(167,534,000)
Total reportable segments
Operations by segment
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	54,798,000		(186,461,000)		121,803,000		(90,670,000)
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	347,625,000		335,705,000		1,061,657,000		1,009,175,000
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	24,867,000		26,929,000		38,847,000		77,211,000
Harsco Infrastructure Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	0		242,569,000		0		709,800,000
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	0		(236,742,000)		0		(241,506,000)
Harsco Rail Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	73,161,000		66,424,000		201,300,000		216,636,000
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	13,976,000		7,945,000		33,001,000		27,056,000
Harsco Industrial Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues from continuing operations	105,591,000		95,347,000		310,696,000		279,565,000
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	15,955,000		15,407,000		49,955,000		46,569,000
Corporate [Member]
Operations by segment
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	(9,060,000)	[1]	(21,916,000)	[1]	(37,490,000)	[1]	(41,075,000)	[1]
Pension Expense	$ 1,400,000				$ 4,300,000

[1] (a) For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, Corporate includes a $0.1 million and $5.6 million loss, respectively, on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs. Additionally, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, Corporate includes net periodic pension cost for defined benefit pension plans retained by the Company as part of the Infrastructure Transaction of $1.4 million and $4.3 million, respectively.