CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2016
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues	$ 246,144		$ 239,057	$ 738,059		$ 714,177
Product revenues	138,509		128,730	414,033		376,824
Total revenues	384,653		367,787	1,152,092		1,091,001
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold	193,314		192,812	574,905		574,137
Cost of products sold	96,469		93,499	296,062		312,131
Selling, general and administrative expenses	61,221		50,249	171,968		150,553
Research and development expenses	936		910	3,096		2,748
Other (income) expenses, net	(1,237)		1,741	1,729		12,111
Total costs and expenses	350,703		339,211	1,047,760		1,051,680
Operating income from continuing operations	33,950		28,576	104,332		39,321
Interest income	610		673	1,615		1,760
Interest expense	(12,123)		(13,756)	(36,181)		(39,924)
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability and loss on dilution and sale of equity method investment	0		(44,788)	0		(58,494)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	22,437		(29,295)	69,766		(57,337)
Income tax expense	(8,270)		(5,079)	(25,757)		(14,913)
Equity income of unconsolidated entities, net	0		3,205	0		5,686
Income (loss) from continuing operations	14,167		(31,169)	44,009		(66,564)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued business	(578)		(592)	(538)		1,788
Income tax benefit (expense) related to discontinued business	207		217	193		(661)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(371)		(375)	(345)		1,127
Net income (loss)	13,796		(31,544)	43,664		(65,437)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(498)		(1,443)	(2,438)		(4,592)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	13,298		(32,987)	41,226		(70,029)
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	13,669		(32,612)	41,571		(71,156)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(371)		(375)	(345)		1,127
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	$ 13,298		$ (32,987)	$ 41,226		$ (70,029)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	80,637		80,379	80,519		80,318
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17		$ (0.41)	$ 0.52		$ (0.89)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00		0.00	0.00		0.01
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	[1]	$ (0.41)	$ 0.51	[1]	$ (0.87)	[1]
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	83,136		80,379	82,753		80,318
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16		$ (0.41)	$ 0.50		$ (0.89)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00		0.00	0.00		0.01
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16		$ (0.41)	$ 0.50		$ (0.87)	[1]

[1] Does not total due to rounding