Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2014		$ 416,155
Changes to goodwill	[1]	2,857
Foreign currency translation		(6,014)
Balance at June 30, 2015		412,998
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2014		400,006
Changes to goodwill	[1]	(493)
Foreign currency translation		(6,014)
Balance at June 30, 2015		393,499
Harsco Industrial Segment
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2014		6,839
Changes to goodwill	[1]	0
Foreign currency translation		0
Balance at June 30, 2015		6,839
Harsco Rail Segment
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2014		9,310
Changes to goodwill	[1]	3,350
Foreign currency translation		0
Balance at June 30, 2015		$ 12,660

[1] Changes to goodwill in the Harsco Rail Segment relate to the acquisitions of Protran and JK Rail. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Dispositions. In addition, the change to goodwill in the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment relates to the allocation of goodwill associated with the sale of the Company's Pakistan-based chromium operations.