Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 23,492	$ 69,701	$ 64,646	$ 114,577
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Currency translation adjustments	(531)	(3,824)	(7,142)	(7,568)
Derivative financial instruments:
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, net of tax (provision) benefit of $(289), $505, $50 and $1,342, respectively	833	(1,707)	(142)	(3,868)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax provision (benefit) of $234, $(395), $13 and $(753), respectively	(679)	1,242	(47)	2,289
Amortization of benefit plan costs, net of tax benefit of $(198), $(245), $(395) and $(518), respectively	397	465	794	993
Investments:
Unrealized gains arising during the period, net of tax (provision) benefit of $(32), $37, $(57) and $(7), respectively	57	33	103	128
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of tax provision of $3, $3, $15 and $3, respectively	(4)	(7)	(26)	(721)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	73	(3,798)	(6,460)	(8,747)
Total Comprehensive Income	23,565	65,903	58,186	105,830
Comprehensive Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,942	3,172	6,839	5,471
Comprehensive Income Attributable to The Babcock & Wilcox Company	$ 26,507	$ 69,075	$ 65,025	$ 111,301