Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 654,010	$ 693,216	$ 1,980,548	$ 2,103,819
Cost of goods sold	415,038	474,171	1,250,938	1,481,359
Gross profit	238,972	219,045	729,610	622,460
Selling, general and administrative expenses	86,302	81,012	254,988	252,672
Research and development expenses	21,012	21,903	61,384	67,324
Restructuring and other, net	0	(6,804)	0	(6,804)
Gain on sales of businesses, net	0	0	(122,298)	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	6,749	36,514	44,337	117,171
Operating profit	124,909	86,420	491,199	192,097
Interest and financing expenses	(15,946)	(19,294)	(46,860)	(62,193)
Other income, net	2,990	124	740	50,234
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	111,953	67,250	445,079	180,138
Income tax expense	12,394	13,144	61,535	41,780
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	99,559	54,106	383,544	138,358
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	14,953	5,736	44,790	19,955
Net income from continuing operations	114,512	59,842	428,334	158,313
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (net of tax)	23,185	11,030	(357,843)	19,074
Net income	137,697	70,872	70,491	177,387
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(9,477)	(5,480)	(28,906)	(16,733)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 128,220	$ 65,392	$ 41,585	$ 160,654
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.48	$ 3.56	$ 1.28
Basic earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.21	0.10	(3.19)	0.17
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	1.14	0.58	0.37	1.45
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.93	0.48	3.53	1.27
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.20	0.10	(3.16)	0.17
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 0.58	$ 0.37	$ 1.44
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	112,429	112,202	112,343	110,840
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	113,448	112,544	113,131	111,205
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.305	$ 0.29	$ 0.915	$ 0.87