Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information - Statements of Comprehensive Income 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 70,872	$ 81,340	$ 177,387	$ 174,954
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(70,404)	(101,420)	(324,548)	(118,299)
Comprehensive income (loss)	468	(20,080)	(147,161)	56,655
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,083)	(8,421)	(16,185)	(22,727)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(4,615)	(28,501)	(163,346)	33,928
2014 Senior Notes | Issuer
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	65,392	72,794	160,654	151,824
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(70,007)	(101,295)	(324,000)	(117,896)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(4,615)	(28,501)	(163,346)	33,928
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(4,615)	(28,501)	(163,346)	33,928
2014 Senior Notes | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	36,422	0	87,870	0
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(103,764)	0	(538,439)	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(67,342)	0	(450,569)	0
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(67,342)	0	(450,569)	0
2014 Senior Notes | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	91,387	50,942	261,549	90,169
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(118,228)	(100,260)	(662,793)	(106,319)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(26,841)	(49,318)	(401,244)	(16,150)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,083)	(8,421)	(16,185)	(22,727)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(31,924)	(57,739)	(417,429)	(38,877)
2014 Senior Notes | Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(122,329)	(42,396)	(332,686)	(67,039)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	221,595	100,135	1,200,684	105,916
Comprehensive income (loss)	99,266	57,739	867,998	38,877
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 99,266	$ 57,739	$ 867,998	$ 38,877