Other Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains	$ (10,613)	$ (6,718)	$ (4,657)
Employee termination benefit costs	14,914	19,120	3,928
Costs to exit activities	13,451	4,908	5,382
Impaired asset write-downs	8,170	39,455	9,688
Foreign currency gains related to Harsco Rail Segment advances on contracts	(10,940)	0	0
Metals and Minerals Separation Costs	9,922	0	0
Subcontractor settlement	4,220	0	0
Other expense	1,449	1,059	769
Total	30,573	57,824	15,110
Other Nonrecurring Expense	$ 7,000
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners	35.00%
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains	$ (7,059)	(3,538)	(1,043)
Employee termination benefit costs	11,454	18,169	3,561
Costs to exit activities	12,638	6,395	2,705
Impaired asset write-downs	8,170	38,791	689
Harsco Infrastructure
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains	0	0	(2,864)
Employee termination benefit costs	0	0	(326)
Costs to exit activities	0	0	(254)
Harsco Industrial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains	(3,554)	(2,077)	(750)
Employee termination benefit costs	561	421	115
Impaired asset write-downs	0	74	0
Harsco Rail
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Employee termination benefit costs	145	185	235
Impaired asset write-downs	0	590	8,999
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains	0	(1,103)	0
Employee termination benefit costs	2,754	345	343
Costs to exit activities	$ 813	$ (1,487)	$ 2,931
Minimum
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service Agreement, Payment Period	5 years
Maximum
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service Agreement, Payment Period	7 years
Parent [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other Nonrecurring Expense	$ 4,600