CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,589,427	$ 3,374,950	$ 3,071,976
Cost of goods sold	2,331,649	2,157,694	1,965,700
Gross profit	1,257,778	1,217,256	1,106,276
Selling, general and administrative expenses	533,368	446,090	450,286
Research and development expenses	58,287	70,054	84,330
Gain on sale of business	0	(210,428)	0
Operating profit	666,123	911,540	571,660
Interest and financing expenses	(57,695)	(52,405)	(115,350)
Other expenses, net	(45,478)	(64,434)	(9,512)
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	562,950	794,701	446,798
Income tax expense	88,161	144,826	431,817
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	474,789	649,875	14,981
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	129,568	89,264	84,487
Net income	604,357	739,139	99,468
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(71,129)	(45,577)	(44,618)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 533,228	$ 693,562	$ 54,850
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 5.03	$ 6.40	$ 0.49
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 5.02	$ 6.34	$ 0.49
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	105,949	108,427	110,914
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted (in shares)	106,321	109,458	112,380