Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 777,748	$ 754,866	$ 2,453,251	$ 2,214,187
Adjusted EBITDA	235,082	209,383	742,362	639,700
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	129,745	118,670	563,966	273,216
Depreciation and amortization	49,707	49,895	150,511	144,087
Utilization of inventory markup		568		23,095
Restructuring and other	3,724		3,724	17,141
Gain on sale of business	0	0	(218,705)	0
Gain on acquisition		(1,408)	0	(6,025)
Acquisition and integration related costs	4,305	5,635	13,016	26,395
Interest and financing expenses	12,988	15,792	39,834	98,895
Income tax expense	33,167	18,495	133,630	53,596
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(2,195)	(1,028)	(6,596)	(3,144)
Legal accrual	(1,017)		27,027
Albemarle Foundation contribution			15,000
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions		1,646		6,586
Other	4,658	(1,698)	20,955	5,858
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	23,065	28,021	90,978	91,144
Adjusted EBITDA	3,968	306	7,729	7,906
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	1,978	(1,776)	1,659	1,622
Depreciation and amortization	1,990	2,082	6,070	6,284
Utilization of inventory markup		0		0
Restructuring and other	0		0	0
Gain on sale of business			0
Gain on acquisition		0		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
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions		0		0
Other	0	0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	270,928	269,238	886,523	729,288
Adjusted EBITDA	113,629	112,944	386,260	327,996
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	90,313	89,745	315,939	249,178
Depreciation and amortization	23,370	22,316	71,760	62,841
Utilization of inventory markup		568		23,095
Restructuring and other	0		0	0
Gain on sale of business			0
Gain on acquisition		(1,408)		(6,025)
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
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions		0		0
Other	(54)	(1,093)	(1,439)	(1,093)
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	232,616	212,923	678,769	636,059
Adjusted EBITDA	78,585	63,936	217,921	194,499
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	67,967	53,760	187,176	164,193
Depreciation and amortization	10,618	10,176	30,745	30,306
Utilization of inventory markup		0		0
Restructuring and other	0		0	0
Gain on sale of business			0
Gain on acquisition		0		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
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions		0		0
Other	0	0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	251,139	244,594	796,822	756,407
Adjusted EBITDA	62,602	60,394	205,534	197,570
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	50,491	47,846	387,038	158,806
Depreciation and amortization	12,111	13,798	37,201	40,014
Utilization of inventory markup		0		0
Restructuring and other	0		0	0
Gain on sale of business			(218,705)
Gain on acquisition		0		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
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions		0		0
Other	0	(1,250)	0	(1,250)
Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	254,816	237,274	809,715	720,065
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	208,771	191,351	890,153	572,177
Depreciation and amortization	46,099	46,290	139,706	133,161
Utilization of inventory markup		568		23,095
Restructuring and other	0		0	0
Gain on sale of business			(218,705)
Gain on acquisition		(1,408)		(6,025)
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
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions		0		0
Other	(54)	(2,343)	(1,439)	(2,343)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	90	159	1,289
Adjusted EBITDA	(23,702)	(28,197)	(75,082)	(88,271)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(81,004)	(70,905)	(327,846)	(300,583)
Depreciation and amortization	1,618	1,523	4,735	4,642
Utilization of inventory markup		0		0
Restructuring and other	3,724		3,724	17,141
Gain on sale of business			0
Gain on acquisition		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	4,305	5,635	13,016	26,395
Interest and financing expenses	12,988	15,792	39,834	98,895
Income tax expense	33,167	18,495	133,630	53,596
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(2,195)	(1,028)	(6,596)	(3,144)
Legal accrual	(1,017)		27,027
Albemarle Foundation contribution			15,000
Multiemployer plan shortfall contributions		1,646		6,586
Other	$ 4,712	$ 645	$ 22,394	$ 8,201