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 (loss) income	106,495				95,262	95,262	11,233
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(254,144)			(253,993)		(253,993)	(151)
Cash dividends declared	(73,350)				(65,068)	(65,068)	(8,282)
Stock-based compensation and other	7,868		7,868			7,868
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		10,500
Exercise of stock options	342	$ 0	342			342
Tax benefit related to stock plans	(131)		(131)			(131)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		59,764
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
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)		(21,254)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1,218)	$ 0	(1,218)			(1,218)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2015		112,192,598
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2015	3,315,890	$ 1,122	2,053,516	(316,406)	1,440,845	3,179,077	136,813
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2015				(362,282)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	59,340
Other comprehensive income (loss)	45,825
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2015		112,192,598
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2015	3,315,890	$ 1,122	2,053,516	(316,406)	1,440,845	3,179,077	136,813
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 (loss) income	(67,206)				(86,635)	(86,635)	19,429
Other comprehensive income (loss)	46,267			45,832		45,832	435
Cash dividends declared	(85,584)				(68,530)	(68,530)	(17,054)
Stock-based compensation and other	8,560		8,560			8,560
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		93,719
Exercise of stock options	4,940	$ 1	4,939			4,940
Tax benefit related to stock plans	38		38			38
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		113,235
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(35,367)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1,982)	$ 0	(1,982)			(1,982)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2016		112,390,938
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2016	3,306,346	$ 1,124	2,070,705	(375,456)	1,460,242	3,156,615	149,731
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2016				(331,663)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(302,754)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(43,641)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2016		112,390,938
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2016	$ 3,306,346	$ 1,124	$ 2,070,705	$ (375,456)	$ 1,460,242	$ 3,156,615	$ 149,731