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, 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
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		106,842,369
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	4,468,594	$ 1,069	1,438,038	(326,132)	3,155,252	4,268,227	200,367
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	563,906				520,277	520,277	43,629
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,945)			(1,869)		(1,869)	(76)
Cash dividends declared	(134,827)				(91,129)	(91,129)	(43,698)
Stock-based compensation	9,778		9,778			9,778
Fees related to public issuance of common stock	(911)		(911)			(911)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		241,649
Exercise of stock options	14,335	$ 2	14,333			14,335
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		9,906,090
Issuance of common stock, net	1,453,888	$ 99	1,453,789			1,453,888
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(45,597)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(7,047)	$ (1)	(7,046)			(7,047)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021		116,944,511
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	6,365,771	$ 1,169	2,907,981	(328,001)	3,584,400	6,165,549	200,222
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021		116,718,175
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	5,942,553	$ 1,167	2,889,923	(350,114)	3,205,408	5,746,384	196,169
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	446,208				424,600	424,600	21,608
Other comprehensive (loss) income	22,037			22,113		22,113	(76)
Cash dividends declared	(63,087)				(45,608)	(45,608)	(17,479)
Stock-based compensation	5,104		5,104			5,104
Fees related to public issuance of common stock	(9)		(9)			(9)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		223,685
Exercise of stock options	13,152	$ 2	13,150			13,152
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		3,783
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 0	0			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(1,132)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(187)	$ 0	(187)			(187)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021		116,944,511
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	$ 6,365,771	$ 1,169	$ 2,907,981	$ (328,001)	$ 3,584,400	$ 6,165,549	$ 200,222