Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 879,747	$ 777,748	$ 2,596,863	$ 2,453,251
Adjusted EBITDA	254,351	235,082	742,118	742,362
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	155,070	129,745	442,837	563,966
Depreciation and amortization	54,487	49,707	156,718	150,511
Restructuring and other		3,724		3,724
Gain on sale of business	0	0	0	(218,705)
Acquisition and integration related costs	4,114	4,305	14,388	13,016
Gain on sale of property			(11,079)	0
Interest and financing expenses	11,108	12,988	35,295	39,834
Income tax expense	25,341	33,167	93,266	133,630
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(551)	(2,195)	(1,810)	(6,596)
Legal accrual		(1,017)		27,027
Environmental accrual				15,597
Albemarle Foundation contribution				15,000
Other	4,782	4,658	12,503	5,358
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	31,748	23,065	109,786	90,978
Adjusted EBITDA	10,448	3,968	28,931	7,729
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	8,305	1,978	22,629	1,659
Depreciation and amortization	2,143	1,990	6,302	6,070
Restructuring and other		0		0
Gain on sale of business				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
Other	0	0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	330,386	270,928	947,030	886,523
Adjusted EBITDA	127,459	113,629	384,854	386,260
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	102,136	90,313	312,609	315,939
Depreciation and amortization	25,212	23,370	71,669	71,760
Restructuring and other		0		0
Gain on sale of business				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
Other	111	(54)	576	(1,439)
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	256,267	232,616	760,752	678,769
Adjusted EBITDA	88,814	78,585	248,743	217,921
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	75,224	67,967	212,320	187,176
Depreciation and amortization	12,448	10,618	35,281	30,745
Restructuring and other		0		0
Gain on sale of business				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
Other	1,142	0	1,142	0
Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	261,346	251,139	779,295	796,822
Adjusted EBITDA	66,944	62,602	193,890	205,534
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	54,345	50,491	156,328	387,038
Depreciation and amortization	12,599	12,111	37,562	37,201
Restructuring and other		0		0
Gain on sale of business				(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
Other	0	0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	283,217	254,816	827,487	809,715
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	231,705	208,771	681,257	890,153
Depreciation and amortization	50,259	46,099	144,512	139,706
Restructuring and other		0		0
Gain on sale of business				(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
Other	1,253	(54)	1,718	(1,439)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	159
Adjusted EBITDA	(39,314)	(23,702)	(114,300)	(75,082)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(84,940)	(81,004)	(261,049)	(327,846)
Depreciation and amortization	2,085	1,618	5,904	4,735
Restructuring and other		3,724		3,724
Gain on sale of business				0
Acquisition and integration related costs	4,114	4,305	14,388	13,016
Gain on sale of property			(11,079)
Interest and financing expenses	11,108	12,988	35,295	39,834
Income tax expense	25,341	33,167	93,266	133,630
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(551)	(2,195)	(1,810)	(6,596)
Legal accrual		(1,017)		27,027
Environmental accrual				15,597
Albemarle Foundation contribution				15,000
Other	$ 3,529	$ 4,712	$ 10,785	$ 6,797