Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 905,093		$ 642,418	$ 2,720,982		$ 1,846,982
Cost of goods sold	592,883		436,972	1,849,740		1,238,574
Gross profit	312,210		205,446	871,242		608,408
Selling, general and administrative expenses	137,615		66,012	421,092		211,127
Research and development expenses	25,295		22,407	77,123		66,916
Restructuring and other, net	(6,804)		293	(6,804)		20,625
Acquisition and integration related costs	42,798		10,261	126,487		15,104
Operating profit	113,306		106,473	253,344		294,636
Interest and financing expenses	(32,058)		(8,749)	(100,986)		(26,255)
Other income (expenses), net	466		(6,618)	50,964		(6,454)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	81,714		91,106	203,322		261,927
Income tax expense	16,892		11,737	48,171		46,700
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	64,822		79,369	155,151		215,227
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	6,050		8,650	22,236		28,200
Net income from continuing operations	70,872		88,019	177,387		243,427
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)	0		(6,679)	0		(68,473)
Net income	70,872		81,340	177,387		174,954
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,480)		(8,546)	(16,733)		(23,130)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 65,392		$ 72,794	$ 160,654		$ 151,824
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58		$ 1.02	$ 1.45		$ 2.79
Basic earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00		(0.09)	0.00		(0.87)
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.58		0.93	1.45		1.92
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.58		1.01	1.44		2.78
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00		(0.08)	0.00		(0.87)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58		$ 0.93	$ 1.44		$ 1.91
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	112,202	[1]	78,244	110,840	[1]	78,880
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	112,544	[1]	78,659	111,205	[1]	79,287
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29		$ 0.275	$ 0.87		$ 0.825

[1] 2015 includes the impact of 34,113 shares issued in connection with the Rockwood acquisition.