CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues from continuing operations:
Total revenues	$ 431,972	$ 394,898		$ 840,010	$ 767,439
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Selling, general and administrative costs	58,927	54,385		116,010	108,322
Research and development expenses	1,418	1,329		2,657	2,160
Other (income) expenses, net	(880)	2,072		942	2,966
Total costs and expenses	378,347	351,749		749,844	695,683
Operating income from continuing operations	53,625	43,149		90,166	71,756
Interest income	577	493		1,075	1,005
Interest expense	(9,993)	(12,405)		(19,576)	(24,058)
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	904	(675)		1,743	(1,374)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	(1,034)	0		(1,034)	0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	44,079	30,562		72,374	47,329
Income tax expense	(1,944)	(11,234)		(10,210)	(17,487)
Income from continuing operations	42,135	19,328		62,164	29,842
Discontinued operations:
Income on disposal of discontinued business	739	628		159	40
Income tax expense related to discontinued business	(163)	(225)		(35)	(14)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	576	403		124	26
Net income	42,711	19,731		62,288	29,868
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,222)	(693)		(3,991)	(1,940)
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation	40,489	19,038		58,297	27,928
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	39,913	18,635		58,173	27,902
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	576	403		124	26
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation	$ 40,489	$ 19,038		$ 58,297	$ 27,928
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	80,861	80,535		80,756	80,460
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.23		$ 0.72	$ 0.35
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.01	0.01		0.00	0.00
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.24		$ 0.72	$ 0.35
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	83,643	82,850		83,594	82,558
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.22		$ 0.70	$ 0.34
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.01	0.00		0.00	0.00
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.23	[1]	$ 0.70	$ 0.34
Service Revenues [Member]
Revenues from continuing operations:
Total revenues	$ 257,963	$ 251,306		$ 512,925	$ 491,915
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services and products sold	195,906	193,235		395,279	382,717
Product Revenues [Member]
Revenues from continuing operations:
Total revenues	174,009	143,592		327,085	275,524
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services and products sold	$ 122,976	$ 100,728		$ 234,956	$ 199,518

[1] Does not total due to rounding