Restructuring Programs (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended										3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended										3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program portion	Dec. 31, 2011 Prior Restructuring Programs	Dec. 31, 2011 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	Dec. 31, 2011 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	Dec. 31, 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Segment	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment	Dec. 31, 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Segment	Dec. 31, 2009 Harsco Infrastructure Segment	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program person	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program Employee termination benefit cost	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program Cost to exit activities	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program Other	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Prior Restructuring Programs person	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Prior Restructuring Programs Employee termination benefit cost	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment Prior Restructuring Programs Cost to exit activities	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Employee termination benefit cost	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Cost to exit activities	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Infrastructure Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Product rationalization	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment	Dec. 31, 2010 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment	Dec. 31, 2009 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment Prior Restructuring Programs person	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment Prior Restructuring Programs Employee termination benefit cost	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment Prior Restructuring Programs Cost to exit activities	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Employee termination benefit cost	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Rail Segment	Dec. 31, 2010 Harsco Rail Segment	Dec. 31, 2009 Harsco Rail Segment	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Rail Segment 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Employee termination benefit cost	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Corporate	Dec. 31, 2009 Harsco Corporate	Dec. 31, 2011 Harsco Corporate 2011/2012 Restructuring Program Employee termination benefit cost
Restructuring Programs
Overall cost savings expected in 2012	$ 36,000,000					$ 36,000,000	$ 36,000,000
Overall cost savings expected in 2013	65,000,000					65,000,000	65,000,000
Pre-tax restructuring charges		43,158,000				100,800,000	100,780,000	84,400,000											87,600,000	87,604,000	15,410,000	6,131,000	66,063,000							12,800,000	12,775,000				50,000			351,000
Non-cash product rationalization charges	66,063,000	34,302,000				66,100,000			66,063,000	34,302,000
Severance costs related to reduced headcount	36,174,000	24,816,000	10,931,000			28,600,000			16,546,000	19,068,000	2,352,000													18,533,000	4,684,000	7,998,000						296,000	578,000	246,000		376,000	32,000
Exit costs related to branch structure reduction and office rationalization costs	10,007,000	34,384,000	4,297,000			6,100,000			8,694,000	33,458,000	1,720,000													1,313,000	930,000	2,577,000
Additional pre-tax charges expected to be incurred in 2012						97,000,000	97,000,000		85,000,000										85,000,000	85,000,000				12,000,000						12,000,000
Charges expected to be incurred in 2012									42,000,000
Number of employees reduced in workforce to date (in persons)						43	43									249											188
Number of employees in total expected workforce reduction (in persons)							1,100					494															242
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period					4,291,000							30,800,000	9,254,000	21,449,000	97,000	1,318,000	905,000	413,000									2,973,000	2,109,000	864,000
Expense Incurred		43,158,000				100,800,000	100,780,000	84,400,000											87,600,000	87,604,000	15,410,000	6,131,000	66,063,000							12,800,000	12,775,000				50,000			351,000
Non-Cash Charges							(67,320,000)													(67,320,000)		(1,257,000)	(66,063,000)
Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges					(510,000)							739,000	(1,040,000)	1,779,000		(422,000)	(361,000)	(61,000)									(88,000)	(88,000)
Cash Expenditures					(1,723,000)		(2,989,000)					(19,654,000)	(8,346,000)	(11,218,000)	(90,000)	(938,000)	(571,000)	(367,000)		(2,951,000)	(910,000)	(2,041,000)					(785,000)	(623,000)	(162,000)		(38,000)
Foreign Currency Translation					(51,000)							262,000	343,000	(81,000)		42,000	27,000	15,000									(93,000)	(118,000)	25,000
Remaining Accrual, balance at the end of the period					2,007,000	30,471,000	30,471,000					12,147,000	211,000	11,929,000	7,000				17,333,000	17,333,000	14,500,000	2,833,000					2,007,000	1,280,000	727,000		12,737,000				50,000			351,000
Remaining amount of accrual expected to be paid through cash expenditures throughout 2011 and/or 2012					(2,000,000)
Remaining amount of accrual expected to be paid related to multiemployer plan withdrawal liabilities through 2023		$ 8,300,000										$ 6,300,000
Portion of the remaining accrual expected to be paid throughout 2012				0.5