Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 773,896	$ 764,049	$ 1,603,187	$ 1,502,894
Cost of goods sold	525,479	530,690	1,091,083	1,027,517
Gross profit	248,417	233,359	512,104	475,377
Selling, general and administrative expenses	121,516	106,949	214,703	208,826
Research and development expenses	13,976	14,210	28,612	30,307
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	(429,408)	0	(429,408)	0
Operating profit	542,333	112,200	698,197	236,244
Interest and financing expenses	(7,152)	(17,852)	(51,034)	(34,737)
Other income (expense), net	14	(6,273)	11,326	2,041
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	535,195	88,075	658,489	203,548
Income tax expense	106,985	15,431	129,092	33,873
Income before equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	428,210	72,644	529,397	169,675
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax)	17,998	31,114	34,509	57,718
Net income	446,208	103,758	563,906	227,393
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(21,608)	(18,134)	(43,629)	(34,565)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	$ 424,600	$ 85,624	$ 520,277	$ 192,828
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.63	$ 0.81	$ 4.54	$ 1.81
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.62	$ 0.80	$ 4.51	$ 1.81
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	116,809	106,329	114,700	106,278
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	117,436	106,535	115,383	106,524