Quarterly Financial Summary (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 930,353		$ 905,093		$ 931,485		$ 884,404		$ 598,566		$ 642,418		$ 604,721		$ 599,843		$ 3,651,335	$ 2,445,548	$ 2,394,270
Gross profit	325,630		312,210		300,566		258,466		162,440		205,446		207,363		195,599		1,196,872	770,848	850,471
Restructuring and other, net	0	[1]	(6,804)	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	5,322	[1]	293	[1]	3,332	[1]	17,000	[1]	(6,804)	25,947	33,361
Acquisition and integration related costs	19,609	[2]	42,798	[2]	24,166	[2]	59,523	[2]	15,054	[2]	10,261	[2]	4,843	[2]	0	[2]	146,096	30,158	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations									(12,990)		88,019		89,404		66,004		360,064	230,437	435,726
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax)									(1,058)	[3]	(6,679)	[3]	(60,025)	[3]	(1,769)	[3]	0	(69,531)	4,108
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(4,460)		(8,546)		(6,932)		(7,652)		(25,158)	(27,590)	(26,663)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 174,252		$ 65,392		$ 52,147		$ 43,115		$ (18,508)		$ 72,794		$ 22,447		$ 56,583		$ 334,906	$ 133,316	$ 413,171
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)									$ (0.22)		$ 1.02		$ 1.05		$ 0.73		$ 3.01	$ 2.57	$ 4.88
Basic earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)									(0.02)		(0.09)		(0.76)		(0.02)		0.00	(0.88)	0.05
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.55		$ 0.58		$ 0.46		$ 0.40		$ (0.24)		$ 0.93		$ 0.29		$ 0.71		$ 3.01	$ 1.69	$ 4.93
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	112,207		112,202		112,189		108,130		78,144		78,244		78,662		79,735		111,182	78,696	83,839
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)									$ (0.22)		$ 1.01		$ 1.04		$ 0.73		$ 3.00	$ 2.57	$ 4.85
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)									(0.02)		(0.08)		(0.76)		(0.02)		0.00	(0.88)	0.05
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.55		$ 0.58		$ 0.46		$ 0.40		$ (0.24)		$ 0.93		$ 0.28		$ 0.71		$ 3.00	$ 1.69	$ 4.90
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted (in shares)	112,608		112,544		112,607		108,464		78,545		78,659		79,091		80,112		111,556	79,102	84,322

[1] See Note 21, “Restructuring and Other.”

[2] See Note 2, “Acquisitions.”

[3] Included in Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax) for the year ended December 31, 2014 is ($65.7) million related to the loss on the sale of our antioxidant, ibuprofen and propofol businesses and assets, the majority of which was recorded in the second quarter. See Note 3, “Divestitures.”