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, 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	180,644				166,726	166,726	13,918
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(29,011)			(29,082)		(29,082)	71
Cash dividends declared	(40,753)				(40,753)	(40,753)	0
Stock-based compensation and other	4,144		4,144			4,144
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		132,238
Exercise of stock options	3,917	1	3,916			3,917
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(7,814,045)
Shares repurchased	(582,298)	(78)	(4,556)		(577,664)	(582,298)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	2,519		2,519			2,519
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		238,939
Issuance of common stock, net		3	(3)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(90,957)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(5,777)	(1)	(5,776)			(5,777)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	1,465,393	814	3,005	56,182	1,292,993	1,352,994	112,399
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2013		81,365,384
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,742,776	801	9,957	116,245	1,500,358	1,627,361	115,415
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		80,052,842
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	93,614				79,030	79,030	14,584
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(16,879)			(16,601)		(16,601)	(278)
Cash dividends declared	(50,999)				(43,387)	(43,387)	(7,612)
Stock-based compensation and other	6,606		6,606			6,606
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		70,046
Exercise of stock options	2,355	1	2,354			2,355
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(1,967,069)
Shares repurchased	(150,000)	(20)	(13,321)		(136,659)	(150,000)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	767		767			767
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		127,533
Issuance of common stock, net		1	(1)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(49,322)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(3,150)	(1)	(3,149)			(3,150)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2014	$ 1,625,090	$ 782	$ 3,213	$ 99,644	$ 1,399,342	$ 1,502,981	$ 122,109
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2014		78,234,030