The premium (cost) of a hedge, expensed during the period.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) of derivative instruments not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4CC
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL109998890-113959

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5580258-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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_FairValueOptionQuantitativeDisclosuresLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all foreign currency derivative assets designated as cash flow hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedgeAssetAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all foreign currency derivative liabilities designated as cash flow hedging instruments.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedgeLiabilityAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of asset contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including, but not limited to, foreign currency options, forward contracts, and swaps.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractAssetFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of liability contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including, but not limited to, foreign currency options, forward (delivery or nondelivery) contracts, and swaps entered into.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractsLiabilityFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all foreign currency derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all foreign currency derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsLiabilityAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=alb_OtherNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_OtherCurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 AUD ($)
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward contracts, assets	$ 38		$ 7,401
Foreign currency forward contracts, liabilities	48,908		3,613
Recognized losses of foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedging instruments	(51,460)	$ 0
Forward contracts \| Other, net
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Cash settlements	(6,800)	(10,400)
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward contracts
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, notional amount	367,700		481,200	$ 727.9
Fair value foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedging instruments, asset	0		5,369
Fair value foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedging instruments, liabilities	44,556		0
Recognized losses of foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedging instruments	(51,460)	0
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward contracts \| Accrued expenses
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair value foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedging instruments, liabilities	33,200
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward contracts \| Other liabilities
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair value foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedging instruments, liabilities	11,400
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward contracts \| Other current assets
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair value foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedging instruments, asset			3,700
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward contracts \| Other assets
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair value foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedging instruments, asset			1,700
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward contracts
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative, notional amount	814,000		1,150,000
Fair value foreign currency forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments, asset	38		2,032
Fair value foreign currency forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments, liabilities	4,352		3,613
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward contracts \| Accrued expenses
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair value foreign currency forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments, liabilities	4,400		3,600
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward contracts \| Other current assets
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair value foreign currency forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments, asset	100		$ 2,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward contracts \| Other income, net
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Recognized losses of foreign currency forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments	$ (5,454)	$ (10,415)