Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 686,006	$ 886,136	$ 1,348,023	$ 1,691,559
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of operations	512,308	686,043	1,014,615	1,305,740
Research and development costs	30,918	837	54,914	29,183
Losses on asset disposals and impairments, net	1,457	156	1,457	87
Selling, general and administrative expenses	101,918	106,937	196,603	210,537
Special charges for restructuring activities	17,470	12,232	20,128	20,655
Total Costs and Expenses	664,071	806,205	1,287,717	1,566,202
Equity in Income of Investees	13,183	18,775	28,452	33,562
Operating Income	35,118	98,706	88,758	158,919
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	190	323	609	655
Interest expense	(921)	(789)	(1,820)	(1,607)
Other - net	580	1,005	1,902	2,411
Total Other Income (Expense)	(151)	539	691	1,459
Income before Provision for Income Taxes	34,967	99,245	89,449	160,378
Provision for Income Taxes	11,475	29,544	24,803	45,801
Net Income	23,492	69,701	64,646	114,577
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,945	3,169	6,835	5,467
Net Income Attributable to The Babcock & Wilcox Company	$ 26,437	$ 72,870	$ 71,481	$ 120,044
Basic:
Net Income Attributable to The Babcock & Wilcox Company	$ 0.24	$ 0.65	$ 0.65	$ 1.06
Diluted:
Net Income Attributable to The Babcock & Wilcox Company	$ 0.24	$ 0.65	$ 0.65	$ 1.06
Shares used in the computation of earnings per share (Note 11):
Basic	109,766,237	111,898,819	110,102,826	112,998,066
Diluted	110,116,630	112,662,563	110,501,337	113,699,859