Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ (515,688)	$ (532,256)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			12,235	(19,773)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			7,932	10,112
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			3,764	(14,063)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 7,321	$ (27,741)	26,968	(23,724)
Less: Other Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			418	1,105
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation			27,386	(22,619)
Ending balance	(488,302)	(554,875)	(488,302)	(554,875)
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			(9,502)	(23,957)
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			3,650	(13,860)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)			(2,773)	(37,817)
Less: Other Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			425	1,091
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation			(2,348)	(36,726)
Ending balance	(127,909)	(76,664)	(127,909)	(76,664)
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			(2,133)	6,681
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			(258)	(2)
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			(266)	(798)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)			(2,551)	5,881
Less: Other Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(7)	14
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation			(2,558)	5,895
Ending balance	(2,958)	(3,130)	(2,958)	(3,130)
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			23,873	(2,493)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			8,190	10,114
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			380	595
Total other comprehensive income (loss)			32,295	8,216
Less: Other Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation			32,295	8,216
Ending balance	(357,401)	(475,062)	(357,401)	(475,062)
Unrealized Loss on Marketable Securities
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(31)	(15)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			(3)	(4)
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 (loss)			(3)	(4)
Less: Other Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation			(3)	(4)
Ending balance	$ (34)	$ (19)	$ (34)	$ (19)