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	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		78,030,524
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,488,635	$ 780	$ 10,447	$ (62,413)	$ 1,410,651	$ 1,359,465	$ 129,170
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	360,064				334,906	334,906	25,158
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(360,766)			(358,875)		(358,875)	(1,891)
Cash dividends declared	(153,436)				(130,150)	(130,150)	(23,286)
Stock-based compensation and other	13,696		13,696			13,696
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		18,000
Exercise of stock options	517	$ 0	517			517
Tax deficiency related to stock plans	(167)		(167)			(167)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		85,900
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Acquisition of Rockwood (in shares)		34,113,064
Acquisition of Rockwood	2,054,132	$ 341	2,036,209			2,036,550	17,582
Noncontrolling interest assumed in acquisition of Shanghai Chemetall	4,843					0	4,843
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(4,655)					0	(4,655)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(28,137)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1,550)	$ 0	(1,550)			(1,550)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		112,219,351
Ending 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	680,769				643,675	643,675	37,094
Other comprehensive income (loss)	8,258			8,876		8,876	(618)
Cash dividends declared	(173,006)				(137,151)	(137,151)	(35,855)
Stock-based compensation and other	16,251		16,251			16,251
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		212,343
Exercise of stock options	9,402	$ 2	9,400			9,402
Tax benefit related to stock plans	1,811		1,811			1,811
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		131,596
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(39,500)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(2,194)	$ 0	(2,194)			(2,194)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		112,523,790
Ending 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	99,468				54,850	54,850	44,618
Other comprehensive income (loss)	187,631			186,744		186,744	887
Cash dividends declared	(178,374)				(141,618)	(141,618)	(36,756)
Stock-based compensation and other	$ 16,505		16,505			16,505
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	210,432	210,432
Exercise of stock options	$ 8,238	$ 2	8,236			8,238
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(2,341,083)
Shares repurchased	(250,000)	$ (23)	(249,977)			(250,000)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		243,024
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 2	(2)			0
Termination of Tianqi Lithium Corporation option agreement	0		13,144			13,144	(13,144)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(89,489)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(8,376)	$ (1)	(8,375)			(8,376)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		110,546,674
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 3,817,696	$ 1,105	$ 1,863,949	$ (225,668)	$ 2,035,163	$ 3,674,549	$ 143,147