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	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		112,523,790
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 3,942,604	$ 1,125	$ 2,084,418	$ (412,412)	$ 2,121,931	$ 3,795,062	$ 147,542
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	99,468				54,850	54,850	44,618
Other comprehensive income (loss)	187,631			186,744		186,744	887
Cash dividends declared	(178,374)				(141,618)	(141,618)	(36,756)
Stock-based compensation	16,505		16,505			16,505
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		210,432
Exercise of stock options	8,238	$ 2	8,236			8,238
Shares repurchased (in shares)		2,341,083
Shares repurchased	250,000	$ 23	249,977			250,000
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		243,024
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 2	(2)			0
Termination of Tianqi Lithium Corporation option agreement	0		13,144			13,144	(13,144)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(89,489)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(8,376)	$ (1)	(8,375)			(8,376)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		110,546,674
Ending 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	739,139				693,562	693,562	45,577
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(125,195)			(125,014)		(125,014)	(181)
Cash dividends declared	(159,357)				(144,601)	(144,601)	(14,756)
Cumulative adjustments from adoption of income tax standard updates	(18,074)				(18,074)	(18,074)
Stock-based compensation	18,506		18,506			18,506
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		94,031
Exercise of stock options	3,633	$ 1	3,632			3,633
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(5,262,654)
Shares repurchased	(500,000)	$ (53)	(499,947)			(500,000)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		383,974
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 4	(4)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(145,997)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(17,240)	$ (1)	(17,239)			(17,240)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		105,616,028
Ending 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	604,357				533,228	533,228	71,129
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(45,520)			(45,053)		(45,053)	(467)
Cash dividends declared	(238,987)				(155,800)	(155,800)	(83,187)
Stock-based compensation	$ 21,284		21,284			21,284
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	161,909	161,909
Exercise of stock options	$ 4,814	$ 2	4,812			4,814
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		396,269
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 4	(4)			0
Increase in ownership interest of noncontrolling interest	(445)		(513)			(513)	68
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(133,991)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(11,031)	$ (1)	(11,030)			(11,031)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		106,040,215
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 4,093,580	$ 1,061	$ 1,383,446	$ (395,735)	$ 2,943,478	$ 3,932,250	$ 161,330