Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 738,845	$ 832,064
Adjusted EBITDA	196,365	225,867
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	107,204	133,569
Depreciation and amortization	53,694	49,283
Restructuring and other	1,847
Acquisition and integration related costs	2,951	5,285
Gain on sale of property	0	(11,079)
Interest and financing expenses	16,885	12,586
Income tax expense	18,442	37,514
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(2,908)	(583)
Other	(1,750)	(708)
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	63,228	39,478
Adjusted EBITDA	22,824	7,243
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	20,846	5,206
Depreciation and amortization	1,978	2,037
Restructuring and other	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Gain on sale of property		0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Other	0	0
Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	236,818	291,886
Adjusted EBITDA	78,637	115,616
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	53,240	93,169
Depreciation and amortization	25,397	22,092
Restructuring and other	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Gain on sale of property		0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Other	0	355
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	231,592	249,052
Adjusted EBITDA	83,262	78,597
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	71,665	67,480
Depreciation and amortization	11,597	11,117
Restructuring and other	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Gain on sale of property		0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Other	0	0
Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	207,207	251,648
Adjusted EBITDA	47,470	60,071
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	34,892	47,859
Depreciation and amortization	12,578	12,212
Restructuring and other	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Gain on sale of property		0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Other	0	0
Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	209,369	254,284
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	159,797	208,508
Depreciation and amortization	49,572	45,421
Restructuring and other	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Gain on sale of property		0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Other	0	355
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	(35,828)	(35,660)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(73,439)	(80,145)
Depreciation and amortization	2,144	1,825
Restructuring and other	1,847
Acquisition and integration related costs	2,951	5,285
Gain on sale of property		11,079
Interest and financing expenses	16,885	12,586
Income tax expense	18,442	37,514
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(2,908)	(583)
Other	$ (1,750)	$ (1,063)