Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders' Equity	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		110,546,674
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 3,817,696	$ 1,105	$ 1,863,949	$ (225,668)	$ 2,035,163	$ 3,674,549	$ 143,147
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	138,925				131,760	131,760	7,165
Other comprehensive (loss) income	51,115			50,929		50,929	186
Cash dividends declared, $0.3675 per common share	(44,481)				(37,103)	(37,103)	(7,378)
Cumulative adjustment from adoption of lease standard update (Note 1)	(11,199)				(11,199)	(11,199)
Stock-based compensation and other	5,737		5,737			5,737
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		12,740
Exercise of stock options	646	$ 0	646			646
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		319,440
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 3	(3)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(122,740)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(15,009)	$ (1)	(15,008)			(15,009)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		110,756,114
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	$ 3,943,430	$ 1,107	1,855,321	(174,739)	2,118,621	3,800,310	143,120
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.335
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		105,616,028
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 3,759,108	$ 1,056	1,368,897	(350,682)	2,566,050	3,585,321	173,787
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	151,526				133,569	133,569	17,957
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(6,903)			(6,856)		(6,856)	(47)
Cash dividends declared, $0.3675 per common share	(38,935)				(38,935)	(38,935)	0
Stock-based compensation and other	7,277		7,277			7,277
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		114,128
Exercise of stock options	2,676	$ 1	2,675			2,676
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		340,111
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 3	(3)			0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(455)		(523)			(523)	68
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(120,256)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(10,255)	$ (1)	(10,254)			(10,255)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		105,950,011
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 3,864,039	$ 1,059	$ 1,368,069	$ (357,538)	$ 2,660,684	$ 3,672,274	$ 191,765
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3675