Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 773,896	$ 764,049	$ 1,603,187	$ 1,502,894
Adjusted EBITDA	194,628	185,193	424,682	381,558
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	424,600	85,624	520,277	192,828
Depreciation and amortization	61,423	57,841	123,683	111,535
Restructuring and other	766	6,733	1,540	8,580
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	(429,408)	0	(429,408)	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	1,915	5,470	4,076	8,426
Interest and financing expenses	7,152	17,852	51,034	34,737
Income tax expense	106,985	15,431	129,092	33,873
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(5,471)	(2,895)	(10,936)	(5,803)
Charitable Contribution Expense	20,000		20,000
Other	6,666	(863)	15,324	(2,618)
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	25,470	50,495	75,095	113,723
Adjusted EBITDA	8,379	18,598	29,858	41,422
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	7,972	16,425	27,988	37,271
Depreciation and amortization	407	2,173	1,870	4,151
Restructuring and other	0	0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0	0
Charitable Contribution Expense	0		0
Other	0	0	0	0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA			(54,930)	(59,587)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation			163,701	(141,672)
Depreciation and amortization			6,256	4,890
Restructuring and other				8,580
Acquisition and integration related costs			4,076	8,426
Interest and financing expenses			51,034	34,737
Income tax expense			129,092	33,873
Non-operating pension and OPEB items			(10,936)	(5,803)
Other			9,715	(2,618)
Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	320,334	283,722	599,310	520,540
Adjusted EBITDA	109,441	94,536	215,877	173,173
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	74,593	66,038	144,965	119,278
Depreciation and amortization	33,497	28,498	65,303	53,895
Restructuring and other	0	0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0	0
Charitable Contribution Expense	0		0
Other	1,351	0	5,609	0
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	279,748	232,779	560,195	464,371
Adjusted EBITDA	92,646	73,041	187,286	156,303
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	80,148	60,692	162,261	132,357
Depreciation and amortization	12,498	12,349	25,025	23,946
Restructuring and other	0	0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0	0
Charitable Contribution Expense	0		0
Other	0	0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	148,344	197,053	368,587	404,260
Adjusted EBITDA	21,164	22,777	46,591	70,247
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	8,446	10,702	21,362	45,594
Depreciation and amortization	12,718	12,075	25,229	24,653
Restructuring and other	0	0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0	0
Charitable Contribution Expense	0		0
Other	0	0	0	0
Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	223,251	190,354	449,754	399,723
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	163,187	137,432	328,588	297,229
Depreciation and amortization	58,713	52,922	115,557	102,494
Restructuring and other	0	0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0		0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0	0	0
Charitable Contribution Expense	0		0
Other	1,351	0	5,609	$ 0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	(37,002)	(23,759)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	253,441	(68,233)
Depreciation and amortization	2,303	2,746
Restructuring and other	766	6,733	1,540
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	(429,408)		(429,408)
Acquisition and integration related costs	1,915	5,470
Interest and financing expenses	7,152	17,852
Income tax expense	106,985	15,431
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(5,471)	(2,895)
Charitable Contribution Expense	20,000		$ 20,000
Other	$ 5,315	$ (863)