Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders' Equity	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,678,827	$ 888	$ 15,194	$ 60,329	$ 1,514,866	$ 1,591,277	$ 87,550
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		88,841,240
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	286,662				273,810	273,810	12,852
Other comprehensive income	1,888			1,733		1,733	155
Cash dividends declared	(61,195)				(53,567)	(53,567)	(7,628)
Stock-based compensation and other	10,294		10,294			10,294
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		897,069
Exercise of stock options	19,977	9	19,968			19,977
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(680,000)
Shares repurchased	(40,470)	(7)	(40,463)			(40,470)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	14,424		14,424			14,424
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		341,620
Issuance of common stock, net		4	(4)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(140,054)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(9,124)	(1)	(9,123)			(9,124)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	1,901,283	893	10,290	62,062	1,735,109	1,808,354	92,929
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012		89,259,875
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,932,008	889	2,761	85,264	1,744,684	1,833,598	98,410
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		88,899,209
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	278,488				257,238	257,238	21,250
Other comprehensive income	11,439			11,031		11,031	408
Cash dividends declared	(70,302)				(60,288)	(60,288)	(10,014)
Stock-based compensation and other	6,324		6,324			6,324
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		152,739
Exercise of stock options	4,510	1	4,509			4,510
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(7,814,045)
Shares repurchased	(582,298)	(78)	(4,556)		(577,664)	(582,298)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	3,078		3,078			3,078
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		254,334
Issuance of common stock, net		3	(3)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(96,080)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(6,098)	(1)	(6,097)			(6,098)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 1,577,149	$ 814	$ 6,016	$ 96,295	$ 1,363,970	$ 1,467,095	$ 110,054
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013		81,396,157