Earnings Per Share (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
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income 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
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests									(44,618)	(37,094)	(25,158)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Albemarle Corporation									$ 54,850	$ 441,544	$ 302,430
Weighted-average common shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	110,510	110,476	110,686	111,986	112,487	112,429	112,339	112,260	110,914	112,379	111,182
Basic earnings 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
Incremental shares under stock compensation plans									1,466	860	374
Weighted-average common shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	112,152	111,975	112,105	113,289	113,563	113,448	113,175	112,770	112,380	113,239	111,556
Diluted earnings 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