Revised Financial Statements (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues	$ 287,428	$ 350,794
Total revenues	451,579	512,483
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold	245,861	294,308
Research and development expenses	919	2,663
Loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs	0	1,681
Total costs and expenses	412,698	480,256
Operating income from continuing operations	38,881	32,227
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	25,008	18,557
Income tax expense	(12,855)	(5,311)
Income from continuing operations	16,236	12,016
Net income (loss)	15,829	11,613
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation	15,264	10,211
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	15,671	10,614
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.13
Basic earnings per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19	$ 0.13
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.13
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19	$ 0.13
As Previously Reported
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues		351,010
Total revenues		512,699
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold		293,999
Research and development expenses		2,619
Loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs		2,138
Total costs and expenses		480,360
Operating income from continuing operations		32,339
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income		18,669
Income tax expense		(4,495)
Income from continuing operations		12,944
Net income (loss)		12,541
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation		11,139
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax		11,542
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.14
Basic earnings per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.14
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.14
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.14
Revision
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues		(216)
Total revenues		(216)
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold		309
Research and development expenses		44
Loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs		(457)
Total costs and expenses		(104)
Operating income from continuing operations		(112)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income		(112)
Income tax expense		(816)
Income from continuing operations		(928)
Net income (loss)		(928)
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation		(928)
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax		$ (928)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.01)
Basic earnings per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ (0.01)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.01)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ (0.01)