Acquisitions and Dispositions - Dispositions Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2019
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				$ 5,314
AXC | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Selling price						$ 600,000
Disposal Group, Net Gain on Disposal						$ 418,000
Air Cooled Heat Exchangers [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		$ (5,300)
Harsco Industrial | Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(5,314)		(5,314)
Corporate overhead expenses		$ 700	$ 1,400	3,400	$ 4,200
Interest rate swaps | Income from discontinued businesses
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income as a result that a forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring	$ 2,700			$ 2,741