Equity Method Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	10 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Decrease in equity method investment			$ 29,400
Harsco's equity in income (loss) of Brand			5,686	$ 175	$ (1,558)
Net sales proceeds			145,000
Merger related costs			20,640	7,688	7,688
Underlying equity in net assets	$ 225,000
Change in fair value to unit adjustment liability			(4,700)	(8,491)	$ (9,740)
Unit adjustment liability, current and non-current			0	79,900
Unit adjustment liability
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Decrease in unit adjustment liability			19,145	0
Infrastructure Transaction Strategic Venture
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total annual payments, pre-tax	22,000
Total annual payments, after-tax	$ 15,000
Ownership interest, joint venture contingency threshold	3.00%
Harsco's equity in income (loss) of Brand		$ (1,595)	5,686	175
Accrued liabilities			1,400
Loss on sale of equity interest			43,500
Book value of equity investment				$ 250,100
Infrastructure Transaction Strategic Venture | Harsco Infrastructure
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Harsco's equity in income (loss) of Brand			$ (10,300)
Percentage of ownership in equity method investments			26.00%	29.00%