Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 853,874		$ 737,258	$ 1,675,503	$ 1,459,321
Adjusted EBITDA	258,562		218,941	507,280	430,317
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	302,461		103,333	434,221	154,546
Depreciation and amortization	50,474		49,122	100,804	94,192
Utilization of inventory markup			11,921		22,527
Restructuring and other			4,235		17,141
Gain on sale of business	(218,705)		0	(218,705)	0
Gain on acquisition				0	(7,433)
Acquisition and integration related costs	6,510		6,479	8,712	20,760
Interest and financing expenses	13,308		14,590	26,846	83,103
Income tax expense	80,102		23,130	100,463	35,101
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(2,204)		(1,053)	(4,401)	(2,116)
Legal accrual	10,416	$ 17,600		28,044
Albemarle Foundation contribution	15,000			15,000
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions			4,940		4,940
Other	1,200		2,244	16,296	7,556
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	30,748		30,704	67,913	63,123
Adjusted EBITDA	(101)		2,444	3,761	7,600
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(2,079)		152	(319)	3,398
Depreciation and amortization	1,978		2,292	4,080	4,202
Utilization of inventory markup			0		0
Restructuring and other			0		0
Gain on sale of business	0			0
Gain on acquisition					0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0		0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0		0	0	0
Income tax expense	0		0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0		0	0	0
Legal accrual	0			0
Albemarle Foundation contribution	0			0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions			0		0
Other	0		0	0	0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Utilization of inventory markup			0
Restructuring and other			4,235
Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	317,563		243,821	615,595	460,050
Adjusted EBITDA	141,617		115,200	272,631	215,052
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	117,292		81,819	225,626	159,433
Depreciation and amortization	24,325		21,460	48,390	40,525
Utilization of inventory markup			11,921		22,527
Restructuring and other			0		0
Gain on sale of business	0			0
Gain on acquisition					(7,433)
Acquisition and integration related costs	0		0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0		0	0	0
Income tax expense	0		0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0		0	0	0
Legal accrual	0			0
Albemarle Foundation contribution	0			0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions			0		0
Other	0		0	(1,385)	0
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	220,514		203,945	446,153	423,136
Adjusted EBITDA	69,367		62,075	139,336	130,563
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	59,673		51,739	119,209	110,433
Depreciation and amortization	9,694		10,336	20,127	20,130
Utilization of inventory markup			0		0
Restructuring and other			0		0
Gain on sale of business	0			0
Gain on acquisition					0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0		0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0		0	0	0
Income tax expense	0		0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0		0	0	0
Legal accrual	0			0
Albemarle Foundation contribution	0			0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions			0		0
Other	0		0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	284,966		258,255	545,683	511,813
Adjusted EBITDA	75,102		67,427	142,932	137,176
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	280,887		53,994	336,547	110,960
Depreciation and amortization	12,920		13,433	25,090	26,216
Utilization of inventory markup			0		0
Restructuring and other			0		0
Gain on sale of business	(218,705)			(218,705)
Gain on acquisition					0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0		0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0		0	0	0
Income tax expense	0		0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0		0	0	0
Legal accrual	0			0
Albemarle Foundation contribution	0			0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions			0		0
Other	0		0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	286,086		244,702	554,899	482,791
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	457,852		187,552	681,382	380,826
Depreciation and amortization	46,939		45,229	93,607	86,871
Utilization of inventory markup			11,921		22,527
Restructuring and other			0		0
Gain on sale of business	(218,705)			(218,705)
Gain on acquisition					(7,433)
Acquisition and integration related costs	0		0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0		0	0	0
Income tax expense	0		0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0		0	0	0
Legal accrual	0			0
Albemarle Foundation contribution	0			0
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions			0		0
Other	0		0	(1,385)	0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	83		533	159	1,199
Adjusted EBITDA	(27,423)		(28,205)	(51,380)	(60,074)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(153,312)		(84,371)	(246,842)	(229,678)
Depreciation and amortization	1,557		1,601	3,117	3,119
Utilization of inventory markup					0
Restructuring and other					17,141
Gain on sale of business	0			0
Gain on acquisition					0
Acquisition and integration related costs	6,510		6,479	8,712	20,760
Interest and financing expenses	13,308		14,590	26,846	83,103
Income tax expense	80,102		23,130	100,463	35,101
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(2,204)		(1,053)	(4,401)	(2,116)
Legal accrual	10,416			28,044
Albemarle Foundation contribution	15,000			15,000
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions			4,940		4,940
Other	$ 1,200		$ 2,244	$ 17,681	$ 7,556