Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income from continuing operations	$ 146,049	$ 143,479	$ 310,686	$ 138,925	$ (207,071)	$ 130,193	$ 113,689	$ 62,657	$ 739,139	$ 99,468	$ 478,638
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests									(45,577)	(44,618)	(37,094)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Albemarle Corporation									$ 693,562	$ 54,850	$ 441,544
Weighted-average common shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	106,042	107,315	109,671	110,681	110,510	110,476	110,686	111,986	108,427	110,914	112,379
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.22	$ 1.21	$ 2.76	$ 1.19	$ (1.98)	$ 1.07	$ 0.93	$ 0.46	$ 6.40	$ 0.49	$ 3.93
Incremental shares under stock compensation plans									1,031	1,466	860
Weighted-average common shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	107,005	108,302	110,659	111,867	112,152	111,975	112,105	113,289	109,458	112,380	113,239
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.21	$ 1.20	$ 2.73	$ 1.18	$ (1.95)	$ 1.06	$ 0.92	$ 0.45	$ 6.34	$ 0.49	$ 3.90