CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling 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	604,357				533,228	533,228	71,129
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(45,520)			(45,053)		(45,053)	(467)
Cash dividends declared	(238,987)				(155,800)	(155,800)	(83,187)
Stock-based compensation	21,284		21,284			21,284
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		161,909
Exercise of stock options	4,814	$ 2	4,812			4,814
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		396,269
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 4	(4)			0
Increase in ownership interest of noncontrolling interest	(445)		(513)			(513)	68
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(133,991)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(11,031)	$ (1)	(11,030)			(11,031)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		106,040,215
Ending 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]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 1.47
Net income	$ 446,615				375,764	375,764	70,851
Other comprehensive income (loss)	69,850			69,603		69,603	247
Cash dividends declared	(196,051)				(163,990)	(163,990)	(32,061)
Stock-based compensation	19,306		19,306			19,306
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		682,068
Exercise of stock options	40,437	$ 7	40,430			40,437
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		185,918
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 2	(2)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(65,832)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(5,143)	$ (1)	(5,142)			(5,143)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		106,842,369
Ending 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]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 1.54
Net income	$ 199,942				123,672	123,672	76,270
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(66,478)			(66,318)		(66,318)	(160)
Cash dividends declared	(278,521)				(182,385)	(182,385)	(96,136)
Stock-based compensation	18,818		18,818			18,818
Fees related to public issuance of common stock	$ (888)		(888)			(888)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	302,151	302,151
Exercise of stock options	$ 18,392	$ 3	18,389			18,392
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		9,919,755
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)		(48,942)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(8,140)	$ (1)	(8,139)			(8,140)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		117,015,333
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 5,805,607	$ 1,170	$ 2,920,007	$ (392,450)	$ 3,096,539	$ 5,625,266	$ 180,341
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 1.56