Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 885,052	$ 853,874	$ 1,717,116	$ 1,675,503
Adjusted EBITDA	261,900	258,562	487,767	507,280
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	154,198	302,461	287,767	434,221
Depreciation and amortization	52,948	50,474	102,231	100,804
Gain on sale of business	0	(218,705)	0	(218,705)
Acquisition and integration related costs	4,990	6,510	10,274	8,712
Gain on sale of property			(11,079)	0
Interest and financing expenses	11,601	13,308	24,187	26,846
Income tax expense	30,411	80,102	67,925	100,463
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(676)	(2,204)	(1,259)	(4,401)
Legal accrual		10,416		28,044
Environmental accrual				15,597
Albemarle Foundation contribution		15,000		15,000
Other	8,428	1,200	7,721	699
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	38,560	30,748	78,038	67,913
Adjusted EBITDA	11,240	(101)	18,483	3,761
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	9,118	(2,079)	14,324	(319)
Depreciation and amortization	2,122	1,978	4,159	4,080
Gain on sale of business		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of property			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
Environmental accrual				0
Albemarle Foundation contribution		0		0
Other	0	0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	324,758	317,563	616,644	615,595
Adjusted EBITDA	141,779	141,617	257,395	272,631
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	117,303	117,292	210,472	225,626
Depreciation and amortization	24,365	24,325	46,457	48,390
Gain on sale of business		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of property			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
Environmental accrual				0
Albemarle Foundation contribution		0		0
Other	111	0	466	(1,385)
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	255,433	220,514	504,485	446,153
Adjusted EBITDA	81,332	69,367	159,929	139,336
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	69,616	59,673	137,096	119,209
Depreciation and amortization	11,716	9,694	22,833	20,127
Gain on sale of business		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of property			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
Environmental accrual				0
Albemarle Foundation contribution		0		0
Other	0	0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	266,301	284,966	517,949	545,683
Adjusted EBITDA	66,875	75,102	126,946	142,932
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	54,124	280,887	101,983	336,547
Depreciation and amortization	12,751	12,920	24,963	25,090
Gain on sale of business		(218,705)		(218,705)
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of property			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
Environmental accrual				0
Albemarle Foundation contribution		0		0
Other	0	0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	289,986	286,086	544,270	554,899
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	241,043	457,852	449,551	681,382
Depreciation and amortization	48,832	46,939	94,253	93,607
Gain on sale of business		(218,705)		(218,705)
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of property			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
Environmental accrual				0
Albemarle Foundation contribution		0		0
Other	111	0	466	(1,385)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	83	0	159
Adjusted EBITDA	(39,326)	(27,423)	(74,986)	(51,380)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(95,963)	(153,312)	(176,108)	(246,842)
Depreciation and amortization	1,994	1,557	3,819	3,117
Gain on sale of business		0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	4,990	6,510	10,274	8,712
Gain on sale of property			(11,079)
Interest and financing expenses	11,601	13,308	24,187	26,846
Income tax expense	30,411	80,102	67,925	100,463
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(676)	(2,204)	(1,259)	(4,401)
Legal accrual		10,416		28,044
Environmental accrual				15,597
Albemarle Foundation contribution		15,000		15,000
Other	$ 8,317	$ 1,200	$ 7,255	$ 2,084