Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2015	$ 400,367
Changes to goodwill	259
Foreign currency translation	2,033
Balance at March 31, 2016	402,659
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2015	380,761
Changes to goodwill	0
Foreign currency translation	2,033
Balance at March 31, 2016	382,794
Harsco Industrial Segment
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2015	6,806
Changes to goodwill	33
Foreign currency translation	0
Balance at March 31, 2016	6,839
Harsco Rail Segment
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2015	12,800
Changes to goodwill	226
Foreign currency translation	0
Balance at March 31, 2016	$ 13,026

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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- Definition

Amount of other (increase) decrease of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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