Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2015	$ 400,367
Changes to goodwill	259
Foreign currency translation	(8,969)
Balance at September 30, 2016	391,657
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2015	380,761
Changes to goodwill	0
Foreign currency translation	(8,969)
Balance at September 30, 2016	371,792
Percentage of fair value exceeded the carrying value		15.00%
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 September 30, 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 September 30, 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

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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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Percentage of fair value of reporting unit in excess of carrying amount.

+ References

No definition available.

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