Information by Segment and Geographic Area (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,065,738us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 2,896,520us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 3,046,018us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Operating Income (Loss)	63,471us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(134,799)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(174,790)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Total Assets	2,263,801us-gaap_Assets	2,441,748us-gaap_Assets	2,975,969us-gaap_Assets
Depreciation and Amortization	176,326	237,041	272,117
Capital Expenditures	207,978	246,147	265,023
Interest income	1,702us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest	2,087us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest	3,676us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Interest expense	(47,111)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(49,654)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(47,381)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Change in fair value to unit adjustment liability	9,740	966	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income (loss)	8,322	(183,332)	(218,495)
Segment operating income
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)	110,675	(73,329)	(138,040)
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,377,592	1,359,004	1,404,103
Operating Income (Loss)	9,858	95,310	99,668
Total Assets	1,472,277	1,595,221	1,561,973
Depreciation and Amortization	159,844	158,837	163,137
Capital Expenditures	186,784	173,179	189,358
Harsco Infrastructure [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	0	885,377	937,293
Operating Income (Loss)	0	(255,326)	(350,497)
Total Assets	0	456,323	1,018,979
Depreciation and Amortization	0	58,449	89,814
Capital Expenditures	0	62,889	63,137
Harsco Rail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	275,614	286,167	352,036
Operating Income (Loss)	37,137	27,710	54,727
Total Assets	169,035	159,774	188,348
Depreciation and Amortization	5,591	10,362	10,116
Capital Expenditures	3,120	3,502	4,133
Harsco Industrial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	412,532	365,972	352,586
Operating Income (Loss)	63,680	58,977	58,062
Total Assets	126,548	83,189	81,035
Depreciation and Amortization	4,928	3,329	3,098
Capital Expenditures	9,298	3,936	3,669
General Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)	(47,204)	(61,470)	(36,750)
Total Assets	495,941	147,241	125,634
Depreciation and Amortization	5,963	6,064	5,952
Capital Expenditures	$ 8,776	$ 2,641	$ 4,726

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Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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