Revised Financial Statements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Inventories	$ 194,598	$ 178,922
Total current assets	702,049	683,479
Other assets	192,138	159,320
Total assets	2,263,383	2,269,227
LIABILITIES
Other liabilities	34,722	37,699
Total liabilities	1,915,562	1,917,317
HARSCO CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(527,475)	(532,256)	(371,872)	(370,615)
Retained earnings	1,282,465	1,283,549
Total Harsco Corporation stockholders’ equity	301,598	307,588
Total equity	347,821	351,910	593,070	597,555
Total liabilities and equity	2,263,383	2,269,227
As Previously Reported
ASSETS
Inventories		177,265
Total current assets		681,822
Other assets		155,551
Total assets		2,263,801
LIABILITIES
Other liabilities		25,849
Total liabilities		1,905,467
HARSCO CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(532,491)
Retained earnings		1,290,208
Total Harsco Corporation stockholders’ equity		314,012
Total equity		358,334
Total liabilities and equity		2,263,801
Revision
ASSETS
Inventories		1,657
Total current assets		1,657
Other assets		3,769
Total assets		5,426
LIABILITIES
Other liabilities		11,850
Total liabilities		11,850
HARSCO CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		235
Retained earnings		(6,659)
Total Harsco Corporation stockholders’ equity		(6,424)
Total equity		(6,424)
Total liabilities and equity		$ 5,426