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 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
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	(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)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(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
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	(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
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(1,132)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(187)		(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
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 income	722,139				660,156	660,156	61,983
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(114,803)			(114,688)		(114,688)	(115)
Cash dividends declared	(119,048)				(92,523)	(92,523)	(26,525)
Stock-based compensation	16,808		16,808			16,808
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		7,789
Exercise of stock options	468		468			468
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		154,696
Issuance of common stock, net	387	$ 2	385			387
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(56,070)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(10,583)	$ (1)	(10,582)			(10,583)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022		117,121,748
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	6,300,975	$ 1,171	2,927,086	(507,138)	3,664,172	6,085,291	215,684
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022		117,112,394
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	6,035,052	$ 1,171	2,915,387	(393,619)	3,303,661	5,826,600	208,452
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	440,592				406,773	406,773	33,819
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(113,581)			(113,519)		(113,519)	(62)
Cash dividends declared	(72,787)				(46,262)	(46,262)	(26,525)
Stock-based compensation	11,424		11,424			11,424
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		7,289
Exercise of stock options	436		436			436
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		3,066
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(1,001)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(161)		(161)			(161)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022		117,121,748
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	$ 6,300,975	$ 1,171	$ 2,927,086	$ (507,138)	$ 3,664,172	$ 6,085,291	$ 215,684