Quarterly Financial Summary (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 992,564	$ 879,747	$ 885,052	$ 832,064	$ 921,699	$ 777,748	$ 853,874	$ 821,629	$ 3,589,427	$ 3,374,950	$ 3,071,976
Gross profit	338,511	309,867	325,914	283,486	320,384	280,537	311,356	304,979	1,257,778	1,217,256	1,106,276
(Gain) loss on sale of business, net					8,277	0	(218,705)	0	0	(210,428)	0
Net income	106,243	171,618	174,970	151,526	146,049	143,479	310,686	138,925
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(15,852)	(16,548)	(20,772)	(17,957)	(16,453)	(13,734)	(8,225)	(7,165)	(71,129)	(45,577)	(44,618)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 90,391	$ 155,070	$ 154,198	$ 133,569	$ 129,596	$ 129,745	$ 302,461	$ 131,760	$ 533,228	$ 693,562	$ 54,850
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.85	$ 1.46	$ 1.46	$ 1.26	$ 1.22	$ 1.21	$ 2.76	$ 1.19	$ 5.03	$ 6.40	$ 0.49
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	106,037	105,999	105,961	105,799	106,042	107,315	109,671	110,681	105,949	108,427	110,914
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.85	$ 1.46	$ 1.45	$ 1.26	$ 1.21	$ 1.20	$ 2.73	$ 1.18	$ 5.02	$ 6.34	$ 0.49
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted (in shares)	106,314	106,299	106,316	106,356	107,005	108,302	110,659	111,867	106,321	109,458	112,380
Expense related to correction of out of period error		$ 7,000