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 (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling 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	330,127				311,536	311,536	18,591
Other comprehensive income	24,832			24,935		24,935	(103)
Cash dividends declared	(78,975)				(71,347)	(71,347)	(7,628)
Stock-based compensation and other	13,939		13,939			13,939
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		949,170
Exercise of stock options	21,148	9	21,139			21,148
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(1,092,767)
Shares repurchased	(63,575)	(11)	(53,193)		(10,371)	(63,575)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	14,809		14,809			14,809
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 Dec. 31, 2012	1,932,008	889	2,761	85,264	1,744,684	1,833,598	98,410
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		88,899,209
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	439,834				413,171	413,171	26,663
Other comprehensive income	31,337			30,981		30,981	356
Cash dividends declared	(89,847)				(79,833)	(79,833)	(10,014)
Stock-based compensation and other	9,072		9,072			9,072
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		191,732
Exercise of stock options	5,553	2	5,551			5,553
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(9,198,056)
Shares repurchased	(582,298)	(92)	(4,542)		(577,664)	(582,298)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	3,266		3,266			3,266
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		256,834
Issuance of common stock, net		3	(3)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(96,877)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(6,149)	(1)	(6,148)			(6,149)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,742,776	801	9,957	116,245	1,500,358	1,627,361	115,415
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		80,052,842
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	160,906				133,316	133,316	27,590
Other comprehensive income	(178,738)			(178,658)		(178,658)	(80)
Cash dividends declared	(101,899)				(86,364)	(86,364)	(15,535)
Noncontrolling interests share of contributed capital in subsidiary	1,780						1,780
Stock-based compensation and other	13,556		13,556			13,556
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	77,546	77,546
Exercise of stock options	2,713	1	2,712			2,713
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(2,190,254)
Shares repurchased	(150,000)	(22)	(13,319)		(136,659)	(150,000)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	826		826			826
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		141,937
Issuance of common stock, net		1	(1)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(51,547)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(3,285)	(1)	(3,284)			(3,285)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,488,635	$ 780	$ 10,447	$ (62,413)	$ 1,410,651	$ 1,359,465	$ 129,170
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		78,030,524