CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenues from continuing operations:
Total revenues	$ 445,475		$ 384,653		$ 1,285,485	$ 1,152,092
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Selling, general and administrative costs	59,297		59,993		175,307	168,315
Research and development expenses	1,720		936		4,377	3,096
Other (income) expenses, net	628		(1,237)		1,570	1,729
Total costs and expenses	388,366		350,024		1,138,210	1,045,707
Operating income from continuing operations	57,109		34,629		147,275	106,385
Interest income	574		610		1,649	1,615
Interest expense	(9,665)		(12,122)		(29,241)	(36,180)
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	928		(680)		2,671	(2,054)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(125)		0		(1,159)	0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	48,821		22,437		121,195	69,766
Income tax expense	(13,833)		(8,270)		(24,043)	(25,757)
Income from continuing operations	34,988		14,167		97,152	44,009
Discontinued operations:
Loss on disposal of discontinued business	(433)		(578)		(274)	(538)
Income tax benefit related to discontinued business	96		207		61	193
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(337)		(371)		(213)	(345)
Net income	34,651		13,796		96,939	43,664
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,804)		(498)		(5,795)	(2,438)
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation	32,847		13,298		91,144	41,226
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	33,184		13,669		91,357	41,571
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(337)		(371)		(213)	(345)
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation	$ 32,847		$ 13,298		$ 91,144	$ 41,226
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	80,950		80,637		80,821	80,519
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41		$ 0.17		$ 1.13	$ 0.52
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0		0		0	0
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41		$ 0.16	[1]	$ 1.13	$ 0.51	[1]
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	83,879		83,136		83,690	82,753
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40		$ 0.16		$ 1.09	$ 0.50
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0		0		0	0
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.16		$ 1.09	$ 0.50
Service Revenues [Member]
Revenues from continuing operations:
Total revenues	$ 250,890		$ 246,144		$ 763,815	$ 738,059
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services and products sold	194,459		194,483		589,738	577,200
Product Revenues [Member]
Revenues from continuing operations:
Total revenues	194,585		138,509		521,670	414,033
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services and products sold	$ 132,262		$ 95,849		$ 367,218	$ 295,367

[1] Does not total due to rounding