Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders' Equity	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		78,030,524
Beginning 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	47,149				43,115	43,115	4,034
Other comprehensive loss	(299,969)			(299,869)		(299,869)	(100)
Cash dividends declared	(32,532)				(32,532)	(32,532)	0
Stock-based compensation and other	3,863		3,863			3,863
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		4,000
Exercise of stock options	90	$ 0	90			90
Tax deficiency related to stock plans	(125)		(125)			(125)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		58,064
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Acquisition of Rockwood (in shares)		34,113,064
Acquisition of Rockwood	2,036,550	$ 341	2,036,209			2,036,550	0
Noncontrolling interest assumed in acquisition of Shanghai Chemetall	4,843					0	4,843
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(20,707)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1,174)	$ 0	(1,174)			(1,174)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2015		112,184,945
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	3,247,330	$ 1,122	2,049,309	(362,282)	1,421,234	3,109,383	137,947
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		112,219,351
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	3,401,313	$ 1,122	2,059,151	(421,288)	1,615,407	3,254,392	146,921
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	235,548				228,186	228,186	7,362
Other comprehensive loss	89,908			89,625		89,625	283
Cash dividends declared	(34,251)				(34,251)	(34,251)	0
Stock-based compensation and other	4,517		4,517			4,517
Tax deficiency related to stock plans	(195)		(195)			(195)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		112,624
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(35,176)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1,969)	$ 0	(1,969)			(1,969)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2016		112,296,799
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 3,694,871	$ 1,123	$ 2,061,503	$ (331,663)	$ 1,809,342	$ 3,540,305	$ 154,566