Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (515,688)	$ (532,256)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	12,749	3,928
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	4,390	5,065
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss in connection with loss on dilution of equity method investment	3,037
Other comprehensive income (loss) from equity method investee	(529)	(4,976)
Total other comprehensive income	19,647	4,017
Less: Other Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(271)	764
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	19,376	4,781
Ending balance	(496,312)	(527,475)
Cumulative Foreign Exchange Translation Adjustments
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(125,561)	(39,938)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	9,501	(23,653)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss in connection with loss on dilution of equity method investment	3,079
Other comprehensive income (loss) from equity method investee	(959)	(5,189)
Total other comprehensive income	11,621	(28,842)
Less: Other Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(267)	754
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	11,354	(28,088)
Ending balance	(114,207)	(68,026)
Effective Portion of Deriviatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(400)	(9,025)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(2,913)	7,955
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	257	1
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss in connection with loss on dilution of equity method investment	106
Other comprehensive income (loss) from equity method investee	143	(382)
Total other comprehensive income	(2,407)	7,574
Less: Other Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)	10
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	(2,411)	7,584
Ending balance	(2,811)	(1,441)
Cumulative Unrecognized Actuarial Losses on Pension Obligations
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(389,696)	(483,278)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	6,168	19,634
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	4,133	5,064
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss in connection with loss on dilution of equity method investment	(148)
Other comprehensive income (loss) from equity method investee	287	595
Total other comprehensive income	10,440	25,293
Less: Other Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	10,440	25,293
Ending balance	(379,256)	(457,985)
Unrealized Loss on Marketable Securities
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(31)	(15)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(7)	(8)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss in connection with loss on dilution of equity method investment	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) from equity method investee	0	0
Total other comprehensive income	(7)	(8)
Less: Other Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	(7)	(8)
Ending balance	$ (38)	$ (23)