Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 737,258	$ 669,327	$ 1,459,321	$ 1,326,538
Cost of goods sold	465,164	421,223	932,139	835,900
Gross profit	272,094	248,104	527,182	490,638
Selling, general and administrative expenses	115,686	86,055	223,687	168,686
Research and development expenses	17,337	20,500	41,660	40,372
Gain on sales of businesses, net	0	(974)	0	(122,298)
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	19,030	0	37,588
Operating profit	139,071	123,493	261,835	366,290
Interest and financing expenses	(14,590)	(15,800)	(83,103)	(30,914)
Other expenses, net	(2,710)	(2,297)	(3,504)	(2,250)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	121,771	105,396	175,228	333,126
Income tax expense	23,130	23,656	35,101	49,141
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	98,641	81,740	140,127	283,985
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	15,048	13,846	36,219	29,837
Net income from continuing operations	113,689	95,586	176,346	313,822
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)	0	(398,340)	0	(381,028)
Net income (loss)	113,689	(302,754)	176,346	(67,206)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(10,356)	(12,067)	(21,800)	(19,429)
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 103,333	$ (314,821)	$ 154,546	$ (86,635)
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.74	$ 1.39	$ 2.62
Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	(3.54)	0.00	(3.39)
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.93	(2.80)	1.39	(0.77)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.92	0.74	1.37	2.61
Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	(3.52)	0.00	(3.38)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92	$ (2.78)	$ 1.37	$ (0.77)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	110,686	112,339	111,336	112,300
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	112,105	113,175	112,697	112,973
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.305	$ 0.64	$ 0.61