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, 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 (loss) income	117,698				95,677	95,677	22,021
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(23,982)			(23,982)		(23,982)
Cash dividends declared	(71,740)				(45,521)	(45,521)	(26,219)
Stock-based compensation	4,674		4,674			4,674
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	(902)		(902)			(902)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		17,964
Exercise of stock options	1,183		1,183			1,183
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		9,902,307
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)		(44,465)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(6,860)	$ (1)	(6,859)			(6,860)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021		116,718,175
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	5,942,553	$ 1,167	2,889,923	(350,114)	3,205,408	5,746,384	196,169
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		117,015,333
Beginning 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]
Net (loss) income	281,547				253,383	253,383	28,164
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,222)			(1,169)		(1,169)	(53)
Cash dividends declared	(46,261)				(46,261)	(46,261)
Stock-based compensation	5,384		5,384			5,384
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		500
Exercise of stock options	32		32			32
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		151,630
Issuance of common stock, net	387	$ 2	385			387
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(55,069)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(10,422)	$ (1)	(10,421)			(10,422)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022		117,112,394
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 6,035,052	$ 1,171	$ 2,915,387	$ (393,619)	$ 3,303,661	$ 5,826,600	$ 208,452