Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 832,064	$ 821,629
Adjusted EBITDA	225,867	248,718
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	133,569	131,760
Depreciation and amortization	49,283	50,330
Acquisition and integration related costs	5,285	2,201
Gain on sale of property	(11,079)	0
Interest and financing expenses	12,586	13,538
Income tax expense	37,514	20,361
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(583)	(2,197)
Legal accrual		17,628
Other	(708)	(500)
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	39,478	37,165
Adjusted EBITDA	7,243	3,862
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	5,206	1,760
Depreciation and amortization	2,037	2,102
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Gain on sale of property	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Legal accrual		0
Other	0	0
Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	291,886	298,032
Adjusted EBITDA	115,616	131,014
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	93,169	108,334
Depreciation and amortization	22,092	24,065
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Gain on sale of property	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Legal accrual		0
Other	355	(1,385)
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	249,052	225,639
Adjusted EBITDA	78,597	69,969
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	67,480	59,536
Depreciation and amortization	11,117	10,433
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Gain on sale of property	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Legal accrual		0
Other	0	0
Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	251,648	260,717
Adjusted EBITDA	60,071	67,830
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	47,859	55,660
Depreciation and amortization	12,212	12,170
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Gain on sale of property	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Legal accrual		0
Other	0	0
Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	254,284	268,813
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	208,508	223,530
Depreciation and amortization	45,421	46,668
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Gain on sale of property	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Legal accrual		0
Other	355	(1,385)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	76
Adjusted EBITDA	(35,660)	(23,957)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(80,145)	(93,530)
Depreciation and amortization	1,825	1,560
Acquisition and integration related costs	5,285	2,201
Gain on sale of property	(11,079)
Interest and financing expenses	12,586	13,538
Income tax expense	37,514	20,361
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(583)	(2,197)
Legal accrual		17,628
Other	$ (1,063)	885
Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Environmental accrual		15,597
Continuing Operations [Member] | Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Environmental accrual		0
Continuing Operations [Member] | Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Environmental accrual		0
Continuing Operations [Member] | Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Environmental accrual		0
Continuing Operations [Member] | Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Environmental accrual		0
Continuing Operations [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Environmental accrual		0
Continuing Operations [Member] | Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Environmental accrual		$ 15,597