Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information - Statements of Comprehensive Income 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 59,366	$ 29,379	$ 106,515	$ 93,614
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	45,825	(7,344)	(254,144)	(16,879)
Comprehensive income (loss)	105,191	22,035	(147,629)	76,735
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,168)	(6,871)	(11,102)	(14,306)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	98,023	15,164	(158,731)	62,429
2014 Senior Notes | Issuer
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	52,147	22,447	95,262	79,030
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	45,876	(7,283)	(253,993)	(16,601)
Comprehensive income (loss)	98,023	15,164	(158,731)	62,429
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	98,023	15,164	(158,731)	62,429
2014 Senior Notes | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	33,652	0	51,448	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	61,825	0	(434,674)	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	95,477	0	(383,226)	0
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	95,477	0	(383,226)	0
2014 Senior Notes | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	76,495	(5,458)	170,162	39,226
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	90,870	(797)	(544,565)	(6,059)
Comprehensive income (loss)	167,365	(6,255)	(374,403)	33,167
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,168)	(6,871)	(11,102)	(14,306)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	160,197	(13,126)	(385,505)	18,861
2014 Senior Notes | Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(102,928)	12,390	(210,357)	(24,642)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(152,746)	736	979,088	5,781
Comprehensive income (loss)	(255,674)	13,126	768,731	(18,861)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ (255,674)	$ 13,126	$ 768,731	$ (18,861)