CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,071,976	$ 2,677,203	$ 2,826,429
Cost of goods sold	1,961,996	1,706,627	1,966,196
Gross profit	1,109,980	970,576	860,233
Selling, general and administrative expenses	437,901	380,464	300,440
Research and development expenses	84,330	80,475	89,187
Restructuring and other, net	0	0	(6,804)
Gain on sales of businesses, net	0	(122,298)	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	57,384	132,299
Operating profit	587,749	574,551	345,111
Interest and financing expenses	(115,350)	(65,181)	(81,650)
Other (expenses) income, net	(25,601)	5,894	47,283
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	446,798	515,264	310,744
Income tax expense	431,817	96,263	11,134
Income from continuing operations before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	14,981	419,001	299,610
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	84,487	59,637	27,978
Net income from continuing operations	99,468	478,638	327,588
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)	0	202,131	32,476
Net income	99,468	680,769	360,064
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(44,618)	(37,094)	(25,158)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 54,850	$ 643,675	$ 334,906
Basic earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 3.93	$ 2.72
Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	1.80	0.29
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.49	5.73	3.01
Diluted earnings per share:
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.49	3.90	2.71
Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	1.78	0.29
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 5.68	$ 3.00
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	110,914	112,379	111,182
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted (in shares)	112,380	113,239	111,556
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.28	$ 1.22	$ 1.16