Quarterly Financial Summary (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 857,789	$ 754,866	$ 737,258	$ 722,063	$ 696,655	$ 654,010	$ 669,327	$ 657,211	$ 3,071,976	$ 2,677,203	$ 2,826,429
Gross profit	307,009	275,789	272,094	255,088	240,966	238,972	248,104	242,534	1,109,980	970,576	860,233
Gain on sales of businesses, net					0	0	(974)	(121,324)	0	(122,298)	0
Acquisition and integration related costs					13,047	6,749	19,030	18,558	0	57,384	132,299
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(207,071)	130,193	113,689	62,657	50,304	114,512	95,586	218,236	99,468	478,638	327,588
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (net of tax)					559,974	23,185	(398,340)	17,312	0	202,131	32,476
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(11,295)	(11,523)	(10,356)	(11,444)	(8,188)	(9,477)	(12,067)	(7,362)	(44,618)	(37,094)	(25,158)
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ (218,366)	$ 118,670	$ 103,333	$ 51,213	$ 602,090	$ 128,220	$ (314,821)	$ 228,186	$ 54,850	$ 643,675	$ 334,906
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (1.98)	$ 1.07	$ 0.93	$ 0.46	$ 0.37	$ 0.93	$ 0.74	$ 1.88	$ 0.49	$ 3.93	$ 2.72
Basic earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)					4.98	0.21	(3.54)	0.15	0.00	1.80	0.29
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)					$ 5.35	$ 1.14	$ (2.80)	$ 2.03	$ 0.49	$ 5.73	$ 3.01
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	110,510	110,476	110,686	111,986	112,487	112,429	112,339	112,260	110,914	112,379	111,182
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (1.95)	$ 1.06	$ 0.92	$ 0.45	$ 0.37	$ 0.93	$ 0.74	$ 1.87	$ 0.49	$ 3.90	$ 2.71
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)					4.93	0.20	(3.52)	0.15	0.00	1.78	0.29
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)					$ 5.30	$ 1.13	$ (2.78)	$ 2.02	$ 0.49	$ 5.68	$ 3.00
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted (in shares)	112,152	111,975	112,105	113,289	113,563	113,448	113,175	112,770	112,380	113,239	111,556