CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues	$ 251,306		$ 249,626	$ 491,915	$ 475,120
Product revenues	143,592		120,307	275,524	248,094
Total revenues	394,898		369,933	767,439	723,214
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold	192,690		191,508	381,591	381,325
Cost of products sold	100,727		125,388	199,593	218,632
Selling, general and administrative expenses	55,606		49,520	110,747	100,304
Research and development expenses	1,329		956	2,160	1,838
Other expenses	2,072		1,247	2,966	10,370
Total costs and expenses	352,424		368,619	697,057	712,469
Operating income from continuing operations	42,474		1,314	70,382	10,745
Interest income	493		552	1,005	1,087
Interest expense	(12,405)		(13,805)	(24,058)	(26,168)
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability and loss on dilution of equity method investment	0		(1,489)	0	(13,706)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income (loss)	30,562		(13,428)	47,329	(28,042)
Income tax expense	(11,234)		(12,000)	(17,487)	(9,834)
Equity income (loss) of unconsolidated entities, net	0		(694)	0	2,481
Income (loss) from continuing operations	19,328		(26,122)	29,842	(35,395)
Discontinued operations:
Income on disposal of discontinued business	628		2,886	40	2,380
Income tax expense related to discontinued business	(225)		(1,065)	(14)	(878)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	403		1,821	26	1,502
Net income (loss)	19,731		(24,301)	29,868	(33,893)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(693)		(1,872)	(1,940)	(3,149)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	19,038		(26,173)	27,928	(37,042)
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	18,635		(27,994)	27,902	(38,544)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	403		1,821	26	1,502
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	$ 19,038		$ (26,173)	$ 27,928	$ (37,042)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	80,535		80,337	80,460	80,288
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23		$ (0.35)	$ 0.35	$ (0.48)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.01		0.02	0.00	0.02
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24		$ (0.33)	$ 0.35	$ (0.46)
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	82,850		80,337	82,558	80,288
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22		$ (0.35)	$ 0.34	$ (0.48)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00		0.02	0.00	0.02
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	[1]	$ (0.33)	$ 0.34	$ (0.46)

[1] Does not total due to rounding