Debt Instrument, Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs

No definition available.

Name:	alb_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	alb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	alb_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountandDebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	alb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ 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 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3291-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alb_September2015TermLoanAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alb_A364DayFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alb_ThreePointZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alb_FourPointOneFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alb_FourPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alb_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Long-Term Debt Interest Rates (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt	$ 331,595	$ 1,326,263
September 2015 Term Loan Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance costs	2,343		$ 2,833
364 Day Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt	300,000
1.875% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 9,662		$ 9,904
Debt instrument, interest rate	1.875%		1.875%
3.00% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 1,616		$ 1,726
Debt instrument, interest rate	3.00%		3.00%
4.15% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 4,225		$ 4,346
Debt instrument, interest rate	4.15%		4.15%
4.50% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 2,832		$ 2,982
Debt instrument, interest rate	4.50%		4.50%
5.45% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 4,429		$ 4,468
Debt instrument, interest rate	5.45%		5.45%