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, 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	235,548				228,186	228,186	7,362
Other comprehensive income	89,908			89,625		89,625	283
Cash dividends declared	(34,251)				(34,251)	(34,251)	0
Stock-based compensation and other	4,517		4,517			4,517
Tax deficiency related to stock plans	(195)		(195)			(195)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		112,624
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(35,176)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1,969)	$ 0	(1,969)			(1,969)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2016		112,296,799
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2016	3,694,871	$ 1,123	2,061,503	(331,663)	1,809,342	3,540,305	154,566
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		112,523,790
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	3,942,604	$ 1,125	2,084,418	(412,412)	2,121,931	3,795,062	147,542
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	62,657				51,213	51,213	11,444
Other comprehensive income	65,892			65,431		65,431	461
Cash dividends declared	(35,441)				(35,441)	(35,441)	0
Stock-based compensation and other	3,945		3,945			3,945
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		37,146
Exercise of stock options	2,170	$ 0	2,170			2,170
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(1,948,178)
Shares repurchased	(250,000)	$ (19)	(249,981)		0	(250,000)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		225,559
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 2	(2)			0
Termination of Tianqi option agreement	0		13,144			13,144	(13,144)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(86,117)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(7,855)	$ 0	(7,855)			(7,855)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2017		110,752,200
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2017	$ 3,783,972	$ 1,108	$ 1,845,839	$ (346,981)	$ 2,137,703	$ 3,637,669	$ 146,303