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	177,387				160,654	160,654	16,733
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(324,548)			(324,000)		(324,000)	(548)
Cash dividends declared	(120,802)				(97,607)	(97,607)	(23,195)
Stock-based compensation and other	10,473		10,473			10,473
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		10,500
Exercise of stock options	342	$ 0	342			342
Tax deficiency related to stock plans	(170)		(170)			(170)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		69,166
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Acquisition of Rockwood (in shares)		34,113,064
Acquisition of Rockwood	2,039,572	$ 341	2,036,209			2,036,550	3,022
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)		(21,276)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1,218)	$ 0	(1,218)			(1,218)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2015		112,201,978
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2015	3,274,514	$ 1,122	2,056,082	(386,413)	1,473,698	3,144,489	130,025
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2015				(316,406)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	70,872
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(70,404)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2015		112,201,978
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2015	3,274,514	$ 1,122	2,056,082	(386,413)	1,473,698	3,144,489	130,025
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	70,491				41,585	41,585	28,906
Other comprehensive income (loss)	87,315			86,857		86,857	458
Cash dividends declared	(126,706)				(102,832)	(102,832)	(23,874)
Stock-based compensation and other	12,882		12,882			12,882
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		162,438
Exercise of stock options	6,779	$ 1	6,778			6,779
Tax benefit related to stock plans	1,369		1,369			1,369
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		120,160
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(35,701)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(2,010)	$ 0	(2,010)			(2,010)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016		112,466,248
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2016	3,451,433	$ 1,124	2,078,169	(334,431)	1,554,160	3,299,022	152,411
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2016				(375,456)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	137,697
Other comprehensive income (loss)	41,048
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016		112,466,248
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 3,451,433	$ 1,124	$ 2,078,169	$ (334,431)	$ 1,554,160	$ 3,299,022	$ 152,411