Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 642,418	$ 591,196	$ 1,846,982	$ 1,754,635
Cost of goods sold	436,972	381,585	1,238,574	1,157,443
Gross profit	205,446	209,611	608,408	597,192
Selling, general and administrative expenses	66,012	61,368	211,127	186,668
Research and development expenses	22,407	19,441	66,916	60,959
Restructuring and other charges, net (Note 13)	293	0	20,625	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	10,261	0	15,104	0
Operating profit	106,473	128,802	294,636	349,565
Interest and financing expenses	(8,749)	(9,496)	(26,255)	(22,335)
Other expenses, net	(6,618)	(368)	(6,454)	(6,147)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	91,106	118,938	261,927	321,083
Income tax expense	11,737	26,963	46,700	72,897
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	79,369	91,975	215,227	248,186
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	8,650	5,338	28,200	25,308
Net income from continuing operations	88,019	97,313	243,427	273,494
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax)	(6,679)	531	(68,473)	4,994
Net income	81,340	97,844	174,954	278,488
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,546)	(7,332)	(23,130)	(21,250)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 72,794	$ 90,512	$ 151,824	$ 257,238
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.02	$ 1.10	$ 2.79	$ 2.98
Basic earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.01	$ (0.87)	$ 0.06
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 1.11	$ 1.92	$ 3.04
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.01	$ 1.10	$ 2.78	$ 2.96
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ 0.01	$ (0.87)	$ 0.06
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 1.11	$ 1.91	$ 3.02
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	78,244	81,385	78,880	84,711
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	78,659	81,852	79,287	85,192
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.275	$ 0.240	$ 0.825	$ 0.720