Acquisitions and Dispositions - Summary of Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Business Acquisition Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 772,972	$ 933,793	$ 1,428,355	$ 1,768,672
Net Income Attributable to The Babcock & Wilcox Company	$ 28,780	$ 74,139	$ 74,530	$ 119,313
Basic Earnings per Common Share	$ 0.26	$ 0.66	$ 0.68	$ 1.06
Diluted Earnings per Common Share	$ 0.26	$ 0.66	$ 0.67	$ 1.05

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463

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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

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