CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,677,203	$ 2,826,429	$ 2,445,548
Cost of goods sold	1,706,627	1,966,196	1,674,700
Gross profit	970,576	860,233	770,848
Selling, general and administrative expenses	380,464	300,440	355,135
Research and development expenses	80,475	89,187	88,310
Restructuring and other, net	0	(6,804)	25,947
Gain on sales of businesses, net	(122,298)	0	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	57,384	132,299	30,158
Operating profit	574,551	345,111	271,298
Interest and financing expenses	(65,181)	(81,650)	(41,358)
Other income (expenses), net	5,894	47,283	(16,761)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	515,264	310,744	213,179
Income tax expense	96,263	11,134	18,484
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	419,001	299,610	194,695
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	59,637	27,978	35,742
Net income from continuing operations	478,638	327,588	230,437
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (net of tax)	202,131	32,476	(69,531)
Net income	680,769	360,064	160,906
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(37,094)	(25,158)	(27,590)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 643,675	$ 334,906	$ 133,316
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 3.93	$ 2.72	$ 2.57
Basic earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	1.80	0.29	(0.88)
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	5.73	3.01	1.69
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	3.9	2.71	2.57
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	1.78	0.29	(0.88)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 5.68	$ 3.00	$ 1.69
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	112,379	111,182	78,696
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted (in shares)	113,239	111,556	79,102
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.22	$ 1.16	$ 1.10