Restructuring Programs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	Dec. 31, 2011 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	Mar. 31, 2012 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Minimum	Mar. 31, 2012 Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program	Mar. 31, 2012 Prior Restructuring Programs	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Infrastructure Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Infrastructure Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Employee termination benefit cost	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Infrastructure Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Cost to exit activities	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program Employee termination benefit cost	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program Cost to exit activities	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program Other	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Employee termination benefit cost	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment Prior Restructuring Programs Employee termination benefit cost	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment Prior Restructuring Programs Cost to exit activities	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Rail Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Employee termination benefit cost	Mar. 31, 2012 Harsco Corporate 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Employee termination benefit cost
Restructuring Programs
Pre-tax charges	$ 35,449,000	$ 4,836,000		$ 101,000,000
Additional charges expected to be incurred in 2012			97,000,000
Overall cost savings expected in 2012					36,000,000
Overall cost savings expected in 2013					65,000,000
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period			30,471,000				2,007,000	17,333,000	14,500,000	2,833,000	12,147,000	211,000	11,929,000	7,000	12,737,000	1,280,000	727,000	50,000	351,000
Additional Expenses Incurred			27,316,000					27,447,000	4,243,000	23,204,000	(386,000)	(147,000)	(234,000)	(5,000)	(205,000)				74,000
Non-Cash Charges / Adjustments			(46,000)					(46,000)	(299,000)	253,000
Net Cash Expenditures			(27,869,000)				(34,000)	(24,628,000)	(9,302,000)	(15,326,000)	(931,000)	(61,000)	(870,000)		(2,925,000)		(34,000)	(50,000)	(266,000)
Foreign Currency Translation			576,000				27,000	578,000	527,000	51,000	102,000	(3,000)	107,000	(2,000)	(2,000)	26,000	1,000
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period			30,448,000	30,471,000			2,000,000	20,684,000	9,669,000	11,015,000	10,932,000		10,932,000		9,605,000	1,306,000	694,000		159,000
Non-cash product rationalization expense			8,100,000
Proceeds from asset sales under the 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	22,488,000	6,617,000	7,300,000
Remaining amount of accrual expected to be paid related to multiemployer plan withdrawal liabilities through 2023						6,300,000
Remaining amount of cash expenditures paid throughout 2012 and 2013							$ (2,000,000)