CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		88,899,209
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,932,008	$ 889	$ 2,761	$ 85,264	$ 1,744,684	$ 1,833,598	$ 98,410
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	439,834				413,171	413,171	26,663
Other comprehensive income (loss)	31,337			30,981		30,981	356
Cash dividends declared	(89,847)				(79,833)	(79,833)	(10,014)
Stock-based compensation and other	9,072		9,072			9,072
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		191,732
Exercise of stock options	5,553	$ 2	5,551			5,553
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(9,198,056)
Shares repurchased	(582,298)	$ (92)	(4,542)		(577,664)	(582,298)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	3,266		3,266			3,266
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		256,834
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 3	(3)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(96,877)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(6,149)	$ (1)	(6,148)			(6,149)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		80,052,842
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,742,776	$ 801	9,957	116,245	1,500,358	1,627,361	115,415
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	160,906				133,316	133,316	27,590
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(178,738)			(178,658)		(178,658)	(80)
Cash dividends declared	(101,899)				(86,364)	(86,364)	(15,535)
Noncontrolling interests share of contributed capital in subsidiary	1,780					0	1,780
Stock-based compensation and other	13,556		13,556			13,556
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		77,546
Exercise of stock options	2,713	$ 1	2,712			2,713
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(2,190,254)
Shares repurchased	(150,000)	$ (22)	(13,319)		(136,659)	(150,000)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	826		826			826
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		141,937
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(51,547)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(3,285)	$ (1)	(3,284)			(3,285)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		78,030,524
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,488,635	$ 780	10,447	(62,413)	1,410,651	1,359,465	129,170
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	360,064				334,906	334,906	25,158
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(360,766)			(358,875)		(358,875)	(1,891)
Cash dividends declared	(153,436)				(130,150)	(130,150)	(23,286)
Stock-based compensation and other	$ 13,696		13,696			13,696
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	18,000	18,000
Exercise of stock options	$ 517	$ 0	517			517
Tax deficiency related to stock plans	(167)		(167)			(167)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		85,900
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Acquisition of Rockwood (in shares)		34,113,064
Acquisition of Rockwood	2,054,132	$ 341	2,036,209			2,036,550	17,582
Noncontrolling interest assumed in acquisition of Shanghai Chemetall	4,843					0	4,843
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(4,655)					0	(4,655)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(28,137)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1,550)	$ 0	(1,550)			(1,550)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		112,219,351
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 3,401,313	$ 1,122	$ 2,059,151	$ (421,288)	$ 1,615,407	$ 3,254,392	$ 146,921