Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders' Equity	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		105,616,028
Beginning 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	151,526				133,569	133,569	17,957
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(6,903)			(6,856)		(6,856)	(47)
Cash dividends declared	(38,935)				(38,935)	(38,935)	0
Stock-based compensation	7,277		7,277			7,277
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		114,128
Exercise of stock options	2,676	$ 1	2,675			2,676
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		340,111
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 3	(3)			0
Increase in ownership interest of noncontrolling interest	(455)		(523)			(523)	68
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(120,256)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(10,255)	$ (1)	(10,254)			(10,255)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		105,950,011
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 3,864,039	$ 1,059	1,368,069	(357,538)	2,660,684	3,672,274	191,765
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3675
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		106,040,215
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 4,093,580	$ 1,061	1,383,446	(395,735)	2,943,478	3,932,250	161,330
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	123,635				107,204	107,204	16,431
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(130,708)			(130,754)		(130,754)	46
Cash dividends declared	(55,219)				(40,933)	(40,933)	(14,286)
Stock-based compensation	3,867		3,867			3,867
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		193,537
Exercise of stock options	10,195	$ 2	10,193			10,195
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		132,320
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(47,458)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(3,825)	$ (1)	(3,824)			(3,825)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		106,318,614
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 4,041,525	$ 1,063	$ 1,393,681	$ (526,489)	$ 3,009,749	$ 3,878,004	$ 163,521
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.385