CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues from continuing operations:
Product revenues	$ 1,503,742,000	$ 1,347,672,000		$ 1,307,470,000
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Selling, general and administrative costs	252,970,000	202,713,000		194,906,000
Research and development expenses	4,824,000	3,925,000		2,736,000
Other expenses	(2,621,000)	(2,201,000)		7,327,000
Total costs and expenses	1,399,463,000	1,216,977,000		1,202,815,000
Operating income from continuing operations	104,279,000	130,695,000		104,655,000
Interest income	1,975,000	2,155,000		2,469,000
Interest expense	(36,586,000)	(21,531,000)		(26,862,000)
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	(5,493,000)	3,457,000		(2,595,000)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(7,704,000)	(1,127,000)		(2,265,000)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	56,471,000	113,649,000		75,402,000
Income tax expense	(20,214,000)	(5,499,000)		(78,190,000)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	273,000	384,000		0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	36,530,000	108,534,000		(2,788,000)
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued businesses	569,135,000	0		0
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax	27,531,000	43,942,000		20,379,000
Income tax expense from discontinued businesses	(120,978,000)	(7,463,000)		(5,747,000)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	475,688,000	36,479,000		14,632,000
Net income	512,218,000	145,013,000		11,844,000
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,299,000)	(7,956,000)		(4,022,000)
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation	503,919,000	137,057,000		7,822,000
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	28,231,000	100,578,000		(6,810,000)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	475,688,000	36,479,000		14,632,000
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$ 503,919,000	$ 137,057,000		$ 7,822,000
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding	79,632	80,716		80,553
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 1.25		$ (0.08)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	5.97	0.45		0.18
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.33	$ 1.70	[1]	$ 0.10	[1]
Diluted weighted average shares of stock outstanding	81,375	83,595		80,553
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 1.20		$ (0.08)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	5.85	0.44		0.18
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.19	$ 1.64		$ 0.10	[1]
Services
Revenues from continuing operations:
Product revenues	$ 1,081,473,000	$ 955,464,000		$ 934,282,000
Product
Revenues from continuing operations:
Product revenues	422,269,000	392,208,000		373,188,000
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services and products sold	$ 305,134,000	$ 266,792,000		$ 260,347,000

[1] Does not total due to rounding.