CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues		$ 240,609	$ 225,494
Product revenues		131,932	127,787
Total revenues		372,541	353,281
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold		188,901	189,817
Cost of products sold		98,866	93,244
Selling, general and administrative expenses		55,141	50,784
Research and development expenses		831	882
Other expenses		894	9,123
Total costs and expenses		344,633	343,850
Operating income from continuing operations		27,908	9,431
Interest income		512	535
Interest expense		(11,653)	(12,363)
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability and loss on dilution of equity method investment		0	(12,217)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income		16,767	(14,614)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(6,253)	2,166
Equity income of unconsolidated entities, net		0	3,175
Income (loss) from continuing operations		10,514	(9,273)
Discontinued operations:
Loss on disposal of discontinued business		(588)	(506)
Income tax benefit related to discontinued business		211	187
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(377)	(319)
Net income (loss)		10,137	(9,592)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(1,247)	(1,277)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation		8,890	(10,869)
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax		9,267	(10,550)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(377)	(319)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation		$ 8,890	$ (10,869)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)		80,385	80,238
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.12	$ (0.13)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 0.11	$ (0.14)
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)		82,263	80,238
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.11	$ (0.13)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.11	$ (0.14)	[1]

[1] Does not total due to rounding