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	326,496				287,767	287,767	38,729
Other comprehensive (loss) income	1,251			1,271		1,271	(20)
Cash dividends declared	(116,839)				(77,877)	(77,877)	(38,962)
Stock-based compensation	12,197		12,197			12,197
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		125,909
Exercise of stock options	3,205	$ 1	3,204			3,205
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		356,824
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 3	(3)			0
Increase in ownership interest of noncontrolling interest	(445)		(513)			(513)	68
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(127,297)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(10,570)	$ (1)	(10,569)			(10,570)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		105,971,464
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	3,974,403	$ 1,059	1,373,213	(349,411)	2,775,940	3,800,801	173,602
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		105,950,011
Beginning 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]
Net income	174,970				154,198	154,198	20,772
Other comprehensive (loss) income	8,154			8,127		8,127	27
Cash dividends declared	(77,904)				(38,942)	(38,942)	(38,962)
Stock-based compensation	4,930		4,930			4,930
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		11,781
Exercise of stock options	529	$ 0	529			529
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		16,713
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 0	0			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(7,041)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(315)	$ 0	(315)			(315)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		105,971,464
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	3,974,403	$ 1,059	1,373,213	(349,411)	2,775,940	3,800,801	173,602
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	227,393				192,828	192,828	34,565
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(35,316)			(35,396)		(35,396)	80
Cash dividends declared	(96,158)				(81,872)	(81,872)	(14,286)
Stock-based compensation	9,872		9,872			9,872
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		204,477
Exercise of stock options	10,809	$ 2	10,807			10,809
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		145,570
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 2	(2)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(53,280)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(4,019)	$ (1)	(4,018)			(4,019)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		106,336,982
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	4,206,161	$ 1,064	1,400,105	(431,131)	3,054,434	4,024,472	181,689
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		106,318,614
Beginning 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]
Net income	103,758				85,624	85,624	18,134
Other comprehensive (loss) income	95,392			95,358		95,358	34
Cash dividends declared	(40,939)				(40,939)	(40,939)	0
Stock-based compensation	6,005		6,005			6,005
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		10,940
Exercise of stock options	614	$ 0	614			614
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		13,250
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(5,822)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(194)	$ 0	(194)			(194)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		106,336,982
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 4,206,161	$ 1,064	$ 1,400,105	$ (431,131)	$ 3,054,434	$ 4,024,472	$ 181,689