Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011 Environmental	Jun. 30, 2010 Environmental	Jun. 30, 2011 Environmental	Jun. 30, 2010 Environmental	Dec. 31, 2010 Environmental	Jan. 31, 2010 Harsco Metals and Minerals Segment EPA notice, Saxonburg and Sarver facilities	Dec. 31, 2010 Gas Technologies Divestiture	Jun. 30, 2011 Value-Added Tax Dispute - Case 1	Aug. 31, 2005 Value-Added Tax Dispute - Case 2	Jun. 30, 2011 Asbestos complaints
Commitments and Contingencies
Accruals for environmental matters	$ 2,100,000		$ 2,100,000		$ 4,200,000
Charges related to environmental matters	600,000	400,000	800,000	700,000
Penalty paid to settle EPA matter						154,000
Charge related to potential and contingent third party tort claims, before tax							5,000,000	4,000,000	4,000,000
Charge related to potential and contingent third party tort claims, additional amount								31,000,000	12,000,000
Charge related to potential and contingent third party tort claims, aggregate amount									16,000,000
Approximate number of defendants in claims against the Company										90
Minimum amount of damages										20,000,000
Maximum amount of damages										$ 25,000,000
Number of pending claims										19,212
Number of claims pending in New York Supreme Court										18,720
Number of claims pending in various counties in a number of state courts, and in certain Federal District Courts										492
Number of claims dismissed to date by stipulation or summary judgment prior to trial										25,461
Number of Active or In Extremis cases in New York County										1,056