CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues	$ 981,672		$ 939,129		$ 1,092,725
Product revenues	625,390		512,094		630,367
Total revenues	1,607,062		1,451,223		1,723,092
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold	767,081		759,120		909,995
Cost of products sold	453,641		411,343		446,366
Selling, general and administrative expenses	234,673		200,391		242,112
Research and development expenses	4,227		4,280		4,510
Loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs	0		0		1,000
Other expenses	4,641		12,620		30,573
Total costs and expenses	1,464,263		1,387,754		1,634,556
Operating income from continuing operations	142,799		63,469		88,536
Interest income	2,469		2,475		1,574
Interest expense	(47,552)		(51,584)		(46,804)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(2,265)		(35,337)		0
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability and loss on dilution and sale of equity method investment	0		(58,494)		(8,491)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	95,451		(79,471)		34,815
Income tax expense	(83,803)		(6,637)		(27,678)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	0		5,686		175
Income (loss) from continuing operations	11,648		(80,422)		7,312
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued business	306		1,061		(1,553)
Income tax (expense) benefit related to discontinued business	(110)		(392)		573
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	196		669		(980)
Net income (loss)	11,844		(79,753)		6,332
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,022)		(5,914)		(144)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	7,822		(85,667)		6,188
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	7,626		(86,336)		7,168
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	196		669		(980)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$ 7,822		$ (85,667)		$ 6,188
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding	80,553		80,333		80,234
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.09		$ (1.07)		$ 0.09
Discontinued operations	0.00		0.01		(0.01)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$ 0.10	[1]	$ (1.07)	[1]	$ 0.08
Diluted weighted average shares of stock outstanding	82,840		80,333		80,365
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.09		$ (1.07)		$ 0.09
Discontinued operations	0.00		0.01		(0.01)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$ 0.09		$ (1.07)	[1]	$ 0.08

[1] Does not total due to rounding.