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Long-Term Debt Interest Rates (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 08, 2014
Nov. 24, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 10, 2010
Jan. 20, 2005
1.875% Senior Notes            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Unamortized discount $ 6,605us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
         
Debt instrument, interest rate 1.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
1.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
       
3.00% Senior Notes            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Unamortized discount 306us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_ThreePointZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
         
Debt instrument, interest rate 3.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_ThreePointZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
  3.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_ThreePointZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
     
4.15% Senior Notes            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Unamortized discount 1,439us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FourPointOneFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
         
Debt instrument, interest rate 4.15%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FourPointOneFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
  4.15%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FourPointOneFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
     
4.50% Senior Notes            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Unamortized discount 1,871us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
    2,186us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
   
Debt instrument, interest rate 4.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
    4.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
4.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
 
5.10% Senior Notes            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Unamortized discount 3us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FivePointOneZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
    36us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FivePointOneZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
   
Debt instrument, interest rate 5.10%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FivePointOneZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
    5.10%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FivePointOneZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
  5.10%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FivePointOneZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
5.45% Senior Notes            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Unamortized discount $ 1,029us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
         
Debt instrument, interest rate 5.45%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
  5.45%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= alb_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesMember