Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information - Comprehensive Income 2 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 47,149us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 64,235us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(299,969)	(9,535)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(252,820)	54,700
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,934)	(7,435)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(256,754)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	47,265us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
4.625% Senior Notes \| Parent Company Guarantor
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	43,115	56,583
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(299,869)	(9,318)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(256,754)	47,265
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(256,754)	47,265
4.625% Senior Notes \| Issuer
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	8,898	0
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(248,250)	0
Comprehensive (loss) income	(239,352)	0
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(239,352)	0
4.625% Senior Notes \| Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	8,898	0
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(248,250)	0
Comprehensive (loss) income	(239,352)	0
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(239,352)	0
4.625% Senior Notes \| Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	93,667	44,684
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(635,434)	(5,262)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(541,767)	39,422
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,934)	(7,435)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(545,701)	31,987
4.625% Senior Notes \| Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(107,429)	(37,032)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	1,131,834	5,045
Comprehensive (loss) income	1,024,405	(31,987)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 1,024,405	$ (31,987)

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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