Other Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains	$ (1,764)	$ (10,613)	$ (6,718)
Employee termination benefit costs	10,777	14,914	19,120
Costs to exit activities	440	13,451	4,908
Impaired asset write-downs	399	8,170	39,455
Foreign currency gains related to Harsco Rail Segment advances on contracts	0	(10,940)	0
Metals and Minerals Separation Costs	3,235	9,922	0
Subcontractor settlement	0	4,220	0
Other expense	(467)	1,449	1,059
Total	12,620	30,573	57,824
Other Nonrecurring Expense		$ 7,000
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners		35.00%
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains	(1,828)	$ (7,059)	(3,538)
Employee termination benefit costs	8,491	11,454	18,169
Costs to exit activities	220	12,638	6,395
Impaired asset write-downs	399	8,170	38,791
Harsco Industrial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains	64	(3,554)	(2,077)
Employee termination benefit costs	947	561	421
Costs to exit activities	40	0	0
Impaired asset write-downs	0	0	74
Harsco Rail
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Employee termination benefit costs	297	145	185
Impaired asset write-downs	0	0	590
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains	0		(1,103)
Employee termination benefit costs	1,042	2,754	345
Costs to exit activities	$ 180	$ 813	$ (1,487)
Minimum
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service Agreement, Payment Period		5 years
Maximum
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service Agreement, Payment Period		7 years
Parent [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other Nonrecurring Expense		$ 4,600