CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenues from continuing operations:
Total revenues	$ 423,155	$ 351,563		$ 1,103,955	$ 1,015,910
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Selling, general and administrative costs	63,197	51,049		187,104	149,257
Research and development expenses	1,341	1,344		3,210	3,171
Other expenses, net	383	335		409	985
Total costs and expenses	376,410	309,804		1,019,587	913,359
Operating income from continuing operations	46,745	41,759		84,368	102,551
Interest income	445	575		1,569	1,645
Interest expense	(12,819)	(5,620)		(24,429)	(16,891)
Unused debt commitment and amendment fees	(158)	(125)		(7,593)	(1,159)
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	(1,356)	934		(4,166)	2,677
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	32,857	37,523		49,749	88,823
Income tax expense	(12,601)	(11,054)		(17,814)	(16,750)
Equity income of unconsolidated entities, net	81	0		151	0
Income from continuing operations	20,337	26,469		32,086	72,073
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax	527,980			527,980	0
Discontinued Operation, Gain From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation, Before Income Tax		0			0
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued businesses	272	10,866		23,958	32,099
Income tax expense related to discontinued businesses	(110,732)	(2,684)		(112,701)	(7,233)
Income from discontinued operations	417,520	8,182		439,237	24,866
Net income	437,857	34,651		471,323	96,939
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,506)	(1,804)		(6,633)	(5,795)
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation	435,351	32,847		464,690	91,144
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	17,831	24,665		25,453	66,278
Income from discontinued operations	417,520	8,182		439,237	24,866
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation	$ 435,351	$ 32,847		$ 464,690	$ 91,144
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	79,666	80,950		79,966	80,821
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.30		$ 0.32	$ 0.82
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	5.24	0.10		5.49	0.31
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 5.46	$ 0.41	[1]	$ 5.81	$ 1.13
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	81,110	83,879		81,749	83,690
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.29		$ 0.31	$ 0.79
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	5.15	0.10		5.37	0.30
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 5.37	$ 0.39		$ 5.68	$ 1.09
Products And Services, Service Revenue [Member]
Revenues from continuing operations:
Total revenues	$ 316,667	$ 224,196		$ 784,190	$ 714,114
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold	239,519	174,937		608,230	554,005
Product Revenues
Revenues from continuing operations:
Total revenues	106,488	127,367		319,765	301,796
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold	$ 71,970	$ 82,139		$ 220,634	$ 205,941

[1] Does not total due to rounding