Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,127,728	$ 829,291
Adjusted EBITDA	431,930	230,054
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	253,383	95,677
Depreciation and amortization	66,574	62,260
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	8,400	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	1,724	2,162
Interest and financing expenses	27,834	43,882
Income tax expense	80,530	22,107
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(5,280)	(5,465)
Other	(1,235)	9,431
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	49,625
Adjusted EBITDA	0	21,479
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	0	20,016
Depreciation and amortization	0	1,463
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Other	0	0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	(22,829)	(17,928)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(128,856)	(93,998)
Depreciation and amortization	2,454	3,953
Acquisition and integration related costs	1,724	2,162
Interest and financing expenses	27,834	43,882
Income tax expense	80,530	22,107
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(5,280)	(5,465)
Other	(1,235)	9,431
Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	550,272	278,976
Adjusted EBITDA	308,615	106,436
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	261,689	74,630
Depreciation and amortization	38,526	31,806
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	8,400
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Other	0	0
Reportable Segments | Bromine
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	359,579	280,447
Adjusted EBITDA	129,234	94,640
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	116,561	82,113
Depreciation and amortization	12,673	12,527
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Other	0	0
Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	217,877	220,243
Adjusted EBITDA	16,910	25,427
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	3,989	12,916
Depreciation and amortization	12,921	12,511
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Other	0	0
Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	454,759	226,503
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	382,239	169,659
Depreciation and amortization	64,120	56,844
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	8,400
Acquisition and integration related costs	0	0
Interest and financing expenses	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	0	0
Other	0	$ 0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	$ 0