Fair market value of shares issued per director per year

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- Definition

Increase in number of shares available for issuance under incentive plan.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of common stock shares.

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No definition available.

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The percentage of the Performance Unit Award earned at a certain point in time.

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No definition available.

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Percentage of award distributed

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The period over which company performance metrics are earned for determination of performance-based award payouts.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Reduced incentive plan awards number of shares.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Shares Available For Issuance Under Current Plan

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Share Based Compensation [Line Items]

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Grant Date Fair Value

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Grant Date Fair Value, Related to Prior Year

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 30
-Article 5

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- Definition

Amount of deferred tax expense from write-off of the deferred tax asset related to deductible stock options at exercise.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=32706628&loc=d3e11283-113907

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- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ References

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- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

The total recognized tax benefit related to compensation cost for equity-based payment arrangements recognized in income during the period.

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- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (j)
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-Publisher FASB
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
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- Definition

The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
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- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

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- Definition

The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

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-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
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- Definition

Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

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- Definition

Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Stock-based Compensation Expense - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 20, 2010	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	May. 07, 2013
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Stock options granted during the period (in shares)		313,803	222,939	297,924
Common stock authorized for non-employee directors (in shares)		150,000,000	150,000,000
Stock-based compensation		$ 15,188,000	$ 14,267,000	$ 10,164,000
Tax benefits recognized related to stock based compensation		5,600,000	5,200,000	3,700,000
Proceeds from stock option exercised		$ 517,000	2,713,000	5,553,000
Minimum
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Share-based awards vesting period		1 year
Maximum
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Share-based awards vesting period		5 years
Albemarle Corporation 2008 Incentive Plan
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Increase in number of shares available for issuance under incentive plan (in shares)	4,470,000
Reduced incentive plan awards number of shares for each share (in shares)	1.6
Shares available for grant (in shares)		2,622,398
Albemarle Corporation 2008 Incentive Plan \| Maximum
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Number of shares available for issuance under incentive plan (in shares)	7,470,000
Non Employee Directors, Plan
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Common stock authorized for non-employee directors (in shares)					500,000
Shares available for grant (in shares)		451,466
Non Employee Directors, Plan \| Maximum
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Fair market value of shares issued per director per year		$ 150,000
Stock Options
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Share-based awards vesting period		3 years
Stock options, term		10 years
Intrinsic value of stock options exercised		$ 500,000	2,400,000	$ 7,000,000
Compensation cost not yet recognized for nonvested share		$ 7,900,000
Remaining weighted average period for recognition of compensation cost years		2 years 3 months 18 days
Proceeds from stock option exercised		$ 500,000
Tax benefit from stock option exercised		200,000
Performance Unit Awards
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Performance unit award payout percentage				200.00%
Compensation cost not yet recognized for nonvested share		$ 13,400,000
Remaining weighted average period for recognition of compensation cost years		1 year 7 months 6 days
Weighted average grant date fair value		$ 11,900,000	20,100,000	$ 16,900,000
Fair value of performance units earned in current year, related to awards granted in prior years				6,300,000
Weighted average fair value of awards vested in period		$ 2,500,000	7,400,000	14,500,000
Number of common stock share for each performance unit (in shares)		1
Performance Unit Awards \| Minimum
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Performance unit award payout percentage		0.00%
Specific performance criteria period		1 year
Performance Unit Awards \| Maximum
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Performance unit award payout percentage		200.00%
Specific performance criteria period		3 years
Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Units
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Compensation cost not yet recognized for nonvested share		$ 3,500,000
Remaining weighted average period for recognition of compensation cost years		2 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted average grant date fair value		$ 3,500,000	2,700,000	3,400,000
Weighted average fair value of awards vested in period		$ 2,200,000	$ 2,100,000	$ 3,200,000
Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Units \| Minimum
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Share-based awards vesting period		1 year
Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Units \| Maximum
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Share-based awards vesting period		5 years
Two Year Measurement Period
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Percentage of award distributed		50.00%
One Year Vesting Period Thereafter
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Percentage of award distributed		50.00%