Segment Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 654,010		$ 693,216	$ 1,980,548		$ 2,103,819
Adjusted EBITDA		(188,329)		(180,681)	(570,833)		(581,519)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		(128,220)		(65,392)	(41,585)		(160,654)
Depreciation and amortization					176,499		200,372
Restructuring and other, net		0		(6,804)	0		(6,804)
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net		0		0	(122,298)		0
Acquisition and integration related costs		6,749		36,514	44,337		117,171
Interest and financing expenses		15,946		19,294	46,860		62,193
Income tax expense		12,394		13,144	61,535		41,780
(Income) loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		(23,185)		(11,030)	357,843		(19,074)
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		28,272		102,224	150,987		337,997
Adjusted EBITDA		(5,470)		(6,262)	(14,810)		(29,540)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		365		6,354	2,655		12,117
Adjusted EBITDA		25,627		16,307	66,435		8,350
Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		240,424		208,820	689,950		620,597
Adjusted EBITDA		(91,719)		(77,408)	(260,861)		(234,988)
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		194,496		190,716	597,912		604,267
Adjusted EBITDA		(51,807)		(58,801)	(179,977)		(180,431)
Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		190,453		185,102	539,044		528,841
Adjusted EBITDA		(64,960)		(54,517)	(181,620)		(144,910)
Continuing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		188,329		180,681	570,833		581,519
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		128,220		65,392	41,585		160,654
Depreciation and amortization		47,974		48,643	141,288		142,805
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]			16,834			82,268
Restructuring and other, net	[2]			(6,804)			(6,804)
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[3]				(122,298)
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	6,749		36,514	44,337		117,171
Interest and financing expenses		15,946		19,294	46,860		62,193
Income tax expense		12,394		13,144	61,535		41,780
(Income) loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		(23,185)		(11,030)	357,843		(19,074)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		(231)		(1,306)	(779)		(3,915)
Other		462	[5]		462	[5]	4,441	[6]
Continuing Operations | All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		5,470		6,262	14,810		29,540
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		3,806		617	133,012		9,644
Depreciation and amortization		1,664		5,645	5,629		16,867
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]			0			3,029
Restructuring and other, net	[2]			0			0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[3]				(123,831)
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	0		0	0		0
Interest and financing expenses		0		0	0		0
Income tax expense		0		0	0		0
(Income) loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		0	0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0		0	0		0
Other		0	[5]		0	[5]	0	[6]
Continuing Operations | Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		(25,627)		(16,307)	(66,435)		(8,350)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		(39,354)		(68,831)	(582,788)		(211,075)
Depreciation and amortization		1,592		2,712	4,562		6,933
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]			0			0
Restructuring and other, net	[2]			(6,804)			(6,804)
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[3]				1,533
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	6,749		36,514	44,337		117,171
Interest and financing expenses		15,946		19,294	46,860		62,193
Income tax expense		12,394		13,144	61,535		41,780
(Income) loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		(23,185)		(11,030)	357,843		(19,074)
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		(231)		(1,306)	(779)		(3,915)
Other		462	[5]		462	[5]	4,441	[6]
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		91,719		77,408	260,861		234,988
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		66,166		38,498	186,373		88,219
Depreciation and amortization		25,553		22,076	74,488		67,530
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]			16,834			79,239
Restructuring and other, net	[2]			0			0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[3]				0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	0		0	0		0
Interest and financing expenses		0		0	0		0
Income tax expense		0		0	0		0
(Income) loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		0	0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0		0	0		0
Other		0	[5]		0	[5]	0	[6]
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		51,807		58,801	179,977		180,431
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		41,621		49,395	150,221		154,353
Depreciation and amortization		10,186		9,406	29,756		26,078
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]			0			0
Restructuring and other, net	[2]			0			0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[3]				0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	0		0	0		0
Interest and financing expenses		0		0	0		0
Income tax expense		0		0	0		0
(Income) loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		0	0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0		0	0		0
Other		0	[5]		0	[5]	0	[6]
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		64,960		54,517	181,620		144,910
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		55,981		45,713	154,767		119,513
Depreciation and amortization		8,979		8,804	26,853		25,397
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]			0			0
Restructuring and other, net	[2]			0			0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[3]				0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	0		0	0		0
Interest and financing expenses		0		0	0		0
Income tax expense		0		0	0		0
(Income) loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		0	0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0		0	0		0
Other		0	[5]		0	[5]	0	[6]
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		208,486		190,726	622,458		560,329
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		163,768		133,606	491,361		362,085
Depreciation and amortization		44,718		40,286	131,097		119,005
Utilization of inventory markup	[1]			16,834			79,239
Restructuring and other, net	[2]			0			0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	[3]				0
Acquisition and integration related costs	[4]	0		0	0		0
Interest and financing expenses		0		0	0		0
Income tax expense		0		0	0		0
(Income) loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		0	0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		0		$ 0	0		0
Other		$ 0	[5]		$ 0	[5]	$ 0	[6]

[1] In connection with the acquisition of Rockwood, the Company valued Rockwood’s existing inventory at fair value as of the Acquisition Closing Date, which resulted in a markup of the underlying net book value of the inventory totaling approximately $103.4 million. The inventory markup was expensed over the estimated remaining selling period. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015, $7.7 million and $55.4 million, respectively, was included in Cost of goods sold, and Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments was reduced by $9.1 million and $26.9 million, respectively, related to the utilization of the inventory markup.

[2] Gain recognized upon the sale of land in Avonmouth, UK, which was utilized by the phosphorus flame retardants business we exited in 2012.

[3] See Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

[4] See Note 2, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

[5] Includes the write-off of fixed assets of $1.4 million included in Research and development expenses, partially offset by a net gain of $0.9 million on the sales of properties included in Other income, net.

[6] Financing-related fees expensed in connection with the acquisition of Rockwood.