Segment Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 737,258	$ 669,327	$ 1,459,321	$ 1,326,538
Adjusted EBITDA	218,941	190,471	430,317	382,504
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	103,333	(314,821)	154,546	(86,635)
Depreciation and amortization			94,192	128,505
Gain on acquisition			(7,433)	0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net	0	(974)	0	(122,298)
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	19,030	0	37,588
Interest and financing expenses	14,590	15,800	83,103	30,914
Income tax expense	23,130	23,656	35,101	49,141
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)	0	398,340	0	381,028
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	30,704	50,626	63,123	122,715
Adjusted EBITDA	2,444	876	7,600	9,340
Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	317,859	233,353	602,234	449,526
Adjusted EBITDA	132,549	82,668	252,571	169,142
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	203,945	206,863	423,136	403,416
Adjusted EBITDA	62,075	66,562	130,563	128,170
Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	184,217	178,012	369,629	348,591
Adjusted EBITDA	50,078	61,586	99,657	116,660
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	533	473	1,199	2,290
Adjusted EBITDA	(28,205)	(21,221)	(60,074)	(40,808)
Continuing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	218,941	190,471	430,317	382,504
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	103,333	(314,821)	154,546	(86,635)
Depreciation and amortization	49,122	49,705	94,192	93,314
Utilization of inventory markup	11,921		22,527
Restructuring and other, net	4,235		17,141
Gain on acquisition			(7,433)
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net		(974)		(122,298)
Acquisition and integration related costs	6,479	19,030	20,760	37,588
Interest and financing expenses	14,590	15,800	83,103	30,914
Income tax expense	23,130	23,656	35,101	49,141
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		398,340		381,028
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(1,053)	(265)	(2,116)	(548)
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions	4,940		4,940
Other	2,244		7,556
Continuing Operations | All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	2,444	876	7,600	9,340
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	152	(1,503)	3,398	129,206
Depreciation and amortization	2,292	3,353	4,202	3,965
Utilization of inventory markup	0		0
Restructuring and other, net	0		0
Gain on acquisition			0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net		(974)		(123,831)
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0	0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions	0		0
Other	0		0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	132,549	82,668	252,571	169,142
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	95,350	56,880	189,456	120,207
Depreciation and amortization	25,278	25,788	48,021	48,935
Utilization of inventory markup	11,921		22,527
Restructuring and other, net	0		0
Gain on acquisition			(7,433)
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0	0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions	0		0
Other	0		0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	62,075	66,562	130,563	128,170
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	51,739	56,747	110,433	108,600
Depreciation and amortization	10,336	9,815	20,130	19,570
Utilization of inventory markup	0		0
Restructuring and other, net	0		0
Gain on acquisition			0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0	0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions	0		0
Other	0		0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	50,078	61,586	99,657	116,660
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	40,463	52,472	80,937	98,786
Depreciation and amortization	9,615	9,114	18,720	17,874
Utilization of inventory markup	0		0
Restructuring and other, net	0		0
Gain on acquisition			0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0	0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions	0		0
Other	0		0
Continuing Operations | Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	244,702	210,816	482,791	413,972
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	187,552	166,099	380,826	327,593
Depreciation and amortization	45,229	44,717	86,871	86,379
Utilization of inventory markup	11,921		22,527
Restructuring and other, net	0		0
Gain on acquisition			(7,433)
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		0		0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0	0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions	0		0
Other	0		0
Continuing Operations | Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	(28,205)	(21,221)	(60,074)	(40,808)
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(84,371)	(479,417)	(229,678)	(543,434)
Depreciation and amortization	1,601	1,635	3,119	2,970
Utilization of inventory markup	0		0
Restructuring and other, net	4,235		17,141
Gain on acquisition			0
(Gain) loss on sales of businesses, net		0		1,533
Acquisition and integration related costs	6,479	19,030	20,760	37,588
Interest and financing expenses	14,590	15,800	83,103	30,914
Income tax expense	23,130	23,656	35,101	49,141
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		398,340		381,028
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(1,053)	$ (265)	(2,116)	$ (548)
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions	4,940		4,940
Other	$ 2,244		$ 7,556