Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 853,874	$ 737,258	$ 1,675,503	$ 1,459,321
Cost of goods sold	542,518	465,297	1,059,168	932,404
Gross profit	311,356	271,961	616,335	526,917
Selling, general and administrative expenses	123,637	116,585	225,007	225,513
Research and development expenses	16,074	17,337	37,060	41,660
Gain on sale of business	(218,705)	0	(218,705)	0
Operating profit	390,350	138,039	572,973	259,744
Interest and financing expenses	(13,308)	(14,590)	(26,846)	(83,103)
Other expenses, net	(5,223)	(1,678)	(35,699)	(1,413)
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	371,819	121,771	510,428	175,228
Income tax expense	80,102	23,130	100,463	35,101
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	291,717	98,641	409,965	140,127
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	18,969	15,048	39,646	36,219
Net income	310,686	113,689	449,611	176,346
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,225)	(10,356)	(15,390)	(21,800)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 302,461	$ 103,333	$ 434,221	$ 154,546
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.76	$ 0.93	$ 3.94	$ 1.39
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.73	$ 0.92	$ 3.90	$ 1.37
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	109,671	110,686	110,176	111,336
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	110,659	112,105	111,263	112,697
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.335	$ 0.32	$ 0.67	$ 0.64