Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation Consolidation The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Harte Hanks, Inc. and subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. As used in this report, the terms “Harte Hanks,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” may refer to Harte Hanks, Inc., one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries, or all of them taken as a whole. Interim Financial Information The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Discontinued Operations As discussed in Note M, Discontinued Operations, we sold the assets of our Trillium reporting unit as of December 23, 2016. As such, the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows for Trillium are reported separately as discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 presented in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Results of the remaining Harte Hanks business are reported as continuing operations. Going Concern Our recent operating and financial performance has caused us to closely review our ability to continue as a going concern. We have taken a number of actions to continue to support our operations and meet obligations in light of our recent financial performance and decreased cash flows. On April 17, 2017, we entered into a new credit agreement with Texas Capital Bank, N.A. (the "Texas Capital Credit Facility"). The Texas Capital Credit Facility provides $20.0 million in borrowing capacity under a revolving credit line and has far more favorable covenant requirements than our prior credit facility. We believe that the liquidity provided by the Texas Capital Credit Facility is sufficient for our needs given the nature and performance of our operations. On May 1, 2017, we entered into an agreement with 3Q Digital (the "3Q Agreement") which defers payment of a significant contingent liability that otherwise would have been due in 2018. Under the terms of the 3Q Digital purchase agreement, we are required to pay the former owners of 3Q Digital an additional sum contingent on achievement of certain revenue growth goals up to $35.0 million. The 3Q Agreement defers our obligation to pay the contingent consideration until April 1, 2019, or the sale of the 3Q Digital business, whichever is earlier. We believe that in conjunction with our current liquidity position, the new credit facility, and the deferral of payment of the contingent consideration, there are no conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the 12 months following the issuance of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. We continue to take actions to return the business to profitability and improve our cash, liquidity, and financial position. We have implemented expense reductions actions, including downsizing our workforce and consolidating back-office and information technology functions. We also completed the closure of our Baltimore direct mail facility in the first quarter of 2017 in response to the declining demand for printed marketing materials. Continuing work from this facility has been transitioned to other facilities, allowing for higher utilization rates. We have started to see the favorable impact of these actions and intend to continue efforts to reduce expenses through the end of 2017. In addition to the actions discussed above, we are taking steps to improve our operational and financial performance. We continue to work toward increasing operating efficiencies and have focused our investments on improving product offerings that we believe will drive revenue growth. On April 18, 2017, we announced that as part of an initiative to enhance the company's strategic position and increase financial flexibility, the company would seek strategic alternatives for the 3Q Digital business. The liquidity from the potential sale of 3Q Digital will enhance our ability to invest in strategies to strengthen our core offerings. Reclassifications Certain amounts in the financial statements from the prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation. This includes amounts related to discontinued operations, which have been reclassified for comparative purposes for the three months ended March 31, 2016. In addition, the retrospective adoption of ASU 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, resulted in the reclassification of pension expense previously recorded in Labor as of March 31, 2016 to Other, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Use of Estimates The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Actual results and outcomes could differ from those estimates and assumptions. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, estimates related to pension accounting; fair value for purposes of assessing goodwill, long-lived assets, and intangible assets for impairment; income taxes; stock-based compensation; and contingencies. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates based on currently available information. Changes in facts and circumstances could result in revised estimates and assumptions. Inventories Our inventories consist primarily of print material and operating supplies. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost using the first-in, first-out method, or market. Operating Expense Presentation in Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss “Labor” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss includes all employee payroll and benefits, including stock-based compensation, along with temporary labor costs. “Production and distribution” and “Advertising, selling, general and administrative” do not include labor, depreciation, or amortization.

Basis of Presentation

Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Harte Hanks, Inc. and subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. As used in this report, the terms “Harte Hanks,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” may refer to Harte Hanks, Inc., one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries, or all of them taken as a whole.

Interim Financial Information

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Discontinued Operations

As discussed in Note M, Discontinued Operations, we sold the assets of our Trillium reporting unit as of December 23, 2016. As such, the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows for Trillium are reported separately as discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 presented in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Results of the remaining Harte Hanks business are reported as continuing operations.

Going Concern

Our recent operating and financial performance has caused us to closely review our ability to continue as a going concern. We have taken a number of actions to continue to support our operations and meet obligations in light of our recent financial performance and decreased cash flows.

On April 17, 2017, we entered into a new credit agreement with Texas Capital Bank, N.A. (the "Texas Capital Credit Facility"). The Texas Capital Credit Facility provides $20.0 million in borrowing capacity under a revolving credit line and has far more favorable covenant requirements than our prior credit facility. We believe that the liquidity provided by the Texas Capital Credit Facility is sufficient for our needs given the nature and performance of our operations.

On May 1, 2017, we entered into an agreement with 3Q Digital (the "3Q Agreement") which defers payment of a significant contingent liability that otherwise would have been due in 2018. Under the terms of the 3Q Digital purchase agreement, we are required to pay the former owners of 3Q Digital an additional sum contingent on achievement of certain revenue growth goals up to $35.0 million. The 3Q Agreement defers our obligation to pay the contingent consideration until April 1, 2019, or the sale of the 3Q Digital business, whichever is earlier.

We believe that in conjunction with our current liquidity position, the new credit facility, and the deferral of payment of the contingent consideration, there are no conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the 12 months following the issuance of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

We continue to take actions to return the business to profitability and improve our cash, liquidity, and financial position. We have implemented expense reductions actions, including downsizing our workforce and consolidating back-office and information technology functions. We also completed the closure of our Baltimore direct mail facility in the first quarter of 2017 in response to the declining demand for printed marketing materials. Continuing work from this facility has been transitioned to other facilities, allowing for higher utilization rates. We have started to see the favorable impact of these actions and intend to continue efforts to reduce expenses through the end of 2017.

In addition to the actions discussed above, we are taking steps to improve our operational and financial performance. We continue to work toward increasing operating efficiencies and have focused our investments on improving product offerings that we believe will drive revenue growth.

On April 18, 2017, we announced that as part of an initiative to enhance the company's strategic position and increase financial flexibility, the company would seek strategic alternatives for the 3Q Digital business. The liquidity from the potential sale of 3Q Digital will enhance our ability to invest in strategies to strengthen our core offerings.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the financial statements from the prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation. This includes amounts related to discontinued operations, which have been reclassified for comparative purposes for the three months ended March 31, 2016. In addition, the retrospective adoption of ASU 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, resulted in the reclassification of pension expense previously recorded in Labor as of March 31, 2016 to Other, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Actual results and outcomes could differ from those estimates and assumptions. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, estimates related to pension accounting; fair value for purposes of assessing goodwill, long-lived assets, and intangible assets for impairment; income taxes; stock-based compensation; and contingencies. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates based on currently available information. Changes in facts and circumstances could result in revised estimates and assumptions.

Inventories

Our inventories consist primarily of print material and operating supplies. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost using the first-in, first-out method, or market.

Operating Expense Presentation in Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

“Labor” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss includes all employee payroll and benefits, including stock-based compensation, along with temporary labor costs. “Production and distribution” and “Advertising, selling, general and administrative” do not include labor, depreciation, or amortization.