Segment Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 905,093	$ 642,418	$ 2,720,982	$ 1,846,982
Adjusted EBITDA		234,996	144,604	730,705	425,322
Depreciation and amortization				(200,372)	(78,344)
Restructuring and other, net		6,804	(293)	6,804	(20,625)
Acquisition and integration related costs		(42,798)	(10,261)	(126,487)	(15,104)
Interest and financing expenses		(32,058)	(8,749)	(100,986)	(26,255)
Income tax expense		(16,892)	(11,737)	(48,171)	(46,700)
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0	(6,679)	0	(68,473)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		65,392	72,794	160,654	151,824
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		102,224	123,521	337,997	372,126
Adjusted EBITDA		6,262	20,971	29,540	63,482
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		6,354	0	12,117	0
Adjusted EBITDA		(15,890)	(20,370)	(7,508)	(60,087)
Continuing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		234,996	144,604	730,705	425,322
Depreciation and amortization		(68,903)	(25,630)	(200,372)	(75,179)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	[2]	(16,834)		(102,298)
Restructuring and other, net	[3]	6,804	(293)	6,804	(20,625)
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	(42,798)	(10,261)	(126,487)	(15,104)
Interest and financing expenses		(32,058)	(8,749)	(100,986)	(26,255)
Income tax expense		(16,892)	(11,737)	(48,171)	(46,700)
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			(6,679)		(68,473)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		1,077	(1,440)	5,900	(14,141)
Other	[5]		(7,021)	(4,441)	(7,021)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		65,392	72,794	160,654	151,824
Continuing Operations | Performance Chemicals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other, net	[3]	0		0
Other	[5]		0
Continuing Operations | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other, net	[3]	0		0
Other	[5]		0
Continuing Operations | Chemetall Surface Treatment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other, net	[3]	0		0
Other	[5]		0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments Subtotal
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other, net	[3]	0		0
Other	[5]		0
Continuing Operations | All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		6,262	20,971	29,540	63,482
Depreciation and amortization		(5,645)	(3,492)	(16,867)	(10,279)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	[2]	0		(3,029)
Restructuring and other, net	[3]	0	0	0	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses		0	0	0	0
Income tax expense		0	0	0	0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0	0	0	0
Other	[5]		0	0	0
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		617	17,479	9,644	53,203
Continuing Operations | Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		(15,890)	(20,370)	(7,508)	(60,087)
Depreciation and amortization		(2,712)	(722)	(6,933)	(1,807)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	[2]	0		0
Restructuring and other, net	[3]	6,804	(293)	6,804	(20,625)
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	(42,798)	(10,261)	(126,487)	(15,104)
Interest and financing expenses		(32,058)	(8,749)	(100,986)	(26,255)
Income tax expense		(16,892)	(11,737)	(48,171)	(46,700)
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			(6,679)		(68,473)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		1,077	(1,440)	5,900	(14,141)
Other	[5]		(7,021)	(4,441)	(7,021)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		(102,469)	(67,272)	(281,822)	(260,213)
Reportable Segments | Performance Chemicals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		399,536	299,947	1,224,864	856,221
Adjusted EBITDA		136,209	82,329	415,419	232,668
Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		185,102	218,950	528,841	618,635
Adjusted EBITDA		54,517	61,674	144,910	189,259
Reportable Segments | Chemetall Surface Treatment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		211,877	0	617,163	0
Adjusted EBITDA		53,898	0	148,344	0
Reportable Segments | Continuing Operations | Performance Chemicals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		136,209	82,329	415,419	232,668
Depreciation and amortization		(31,482)	(12,593)	(93,608)	(37,742)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	[2]	(16,834)		(79,239)
Restructuring and other, net	[3]		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses		0	0	0	0
Income tax expense		0	0	0	0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0	0	0	0
Other	[5]			0	0
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		87,893	69,736	242,572	194,926
Reportable Segments | Continuing Operations | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		54,517	61,674	144,910	189,259
Depreciation and amortization		(8,804)	(8,823)	(25,397)	(25,351)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	[2]	0		0
Restructuring and other, net	[3]		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses		0	0	0	0
Income tax expense		0	0	0	0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0	0	0	0
Other	[5]			0	0
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		45,713	52,851	119,513	163,908
Reportable Segments | Continuing Operations | Chemetall Surface Treatment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		53,898	0	148,344	0
Depreciation and amortization		(20,260)	0	(57,567)	0	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	[2]	0		(20,030)
Restructuring and other, net	[3]		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses		0	0	0	0
Income tax expense		0	0	0	0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0	0	0	0
Other	[5]			0	0
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		33,638	0	70,747	0
Reportable Segments | Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments Subtotal
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		244,624	144,003	708,673	421,927
Depreciation and amortization		(60,546)	(21,416)	(176,572)	(63,093)	[1]
Utilization of inventory markup	[2]	(16,834)		(99,269)
Restructuring and other, net	[3]		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses		0	0	0	0
Income tax expense		0	0	0	0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)			0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0	0	0	0
Other	[5]			0	0
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		$ 167,244	$ 122,587	$ 432,832	$ 358,834

[1] Excludes discontinued operations.

[2] In connection with the acquisition of Rockwood, the Company valued Rockwood’s existing inventory at fair value as of the Acquisition Closing Date, which resulted in a markup of the underlying net book value of the inventory totaling approximately $103 million. The inventory markup is being expensed over the estimated remaining selling period. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015, $7.7 million and $75.4 million, respectively, was included in Cost of goods sold, and Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments was reduced by $9.1 million and $26.9 million, respectively, related to the utilization of the inventory markup.

[3] See Note 15, “Restructuring and Other.”

[4] See Note 2, “Acquisitions.”

[5] Financing-related fees expensed in connection with the acquisition of Rockwood.