Debt Instrument, Weighted Average Maturity Period

No definition available.

Name:	alb_DebtInstrumentWeightedAverageMaturityPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	alb_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of long-term debt outstanding calculated at point in time.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow (outflow) for debt classified as other.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfOtherDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after tax, of reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) of gain (loss) from increase (decrease) in fair value of net investment hedge.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4CCC
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL109998896-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=alb_A2018CreditAgreementMember
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
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- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from borrowings of credit agreements		$ 250,000	$ 0
Repayments of commercial paper notes		(151,872)	118,223
Net investment hedge gains		$ 2,081	$ 3,304
Commercial paper notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate		1.72%
Debt instrument maturity period		22 days
1.875% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate		1.875%		1.875%
2018 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on amount borrowed		2.08%
Commercial paper notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of commercial paper notes		$ 152,000
Subsequent Event \| 2019 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from borrowings of credit agreements	$ 200,000
Interest rate on amount borrowed	1.125%