Information by Segment and Geographic Area (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,723,092	$ 2,066,288	$ 2,895,970
Operating income from continuing operations	88,536	69,287	(142,643)
Total assets	2,071,327	2,269,227	2,446,517
Depreciation and Amortization	156,475	176,326	237,041
Capital Expenditures	123,552	208,859	245,551
Interest income	1,574	1,702	2,087
Interest expense	(46,804)	(47,111)	(49,654)
Change in fair value to unit adjustment liability	(8,491)	(9,740)	(966)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income (loss)	34,815	14,138	(191,176)
Segment operating income
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income from continuing operations	134,205	115,022	(79,705)
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,106,162	1,378,142	1,358,454
Operating income from continuing operations	26,289	13,771	91,781
Total assets	1,294,759	1,476,660	1,599,329
Depreciation and Amortization	136,579	159,844	158,837
Capital Expenditures	99,563	187,665	172,583
Harsco Infrastructure
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	885,377
Operating income from continuing operations	0	0	(257,291)
Total assets	0	0	456,316
Depreciation and Amortization	0	0	58,449
Capital Expenditures	0	0	62,889
Harsco Industrial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	357,256	412,532	365,972
Operating income from continuing operations	57,020	64,114	59,110
Total assets	119,830	127,591	83,946
Depreciation and Amortization	6,266	4,928	3,329
Capital Expenditures	17,382	9,298	3,936
Harsco Rail
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	259,674	275,614	286,167
Operating income from continuing operations	50,896	37,137	26,695
Total assets	219,753	169,035	159,752
Depreciation and Amortization	6,093	5,591	10,362
Capital Expenditures	1,957	3,120	3,502
General Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income from continuing operations	(45,669)	(45,735)	(62,938)
Total assets	436,985	495,941	147,174
Depreciation and Amortization	7,537	5,963	6,064
Capital Expenditures	$ 4,650	$ 8,776	$ 2,641