Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,479,593	$ 773,896	$ 2,607,321	$ 1,603,187
Adjusted EBITDA	610,209	194,628	1,042,139	424,682
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	406,773	424,600	660,156	520,277
Depreciation and amortization	70,993	61,423	137,567	123,683
Acquisition and integration related costs	5,375	1,915	7,099	4,076
Interest and financing expenses	41,409	7,152	69,243	51,034
Income tax expense	89,018	106,985	169,548	129,092
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(5,038)	(5,471)	(10,318)	(10,936)
Other	1,679	6,666	444	15,324
Restructuring and other		766		1,540
(Gain) loss on sale of business/interest in properties	0	(429,408)	8,400	(429,408)
Charitable Contribution Expense		20,000		20,000
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	25,470	0	75,095
Adjusted EBITDA	0	8,379	0	29,858
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	0	7,972	0	27,988
Depreciation and amortization	0	407	0	1,870
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
Other	0	0	0	0
Restructuring and other		0		0
(Gain) loss on sale of business/interest in properties		0	0	0
Charitable Contribution Expense		0		0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA			(53,303)	(54,930)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation			(293,260)	163,701
Depreciation and amortization			4,548	6,256
Acquisition and integration related costs			7,099	4,076
Interest and financing expenses			69,243	51,034
Income tax expense			169,548	129,092
Non-operating pension and OPEB items			(10,318)	(10,936)
Other			(163)	9,715
Restructuring and other				1,540
Reportable Segments | Lithium
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	891,516	320,334	1,441,788	599,310
Adjusted EBITDA	495,208	109,441	803,823	215,877
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	452,099	74,593	713,788	144,965
Depreciation and amortization	42,502	33,497	81,028	65,303
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
Other	607	1,351	607	5,609
Restructuring and other		0		0
(Gain) loss on sale of business/interest in properties		0	8,400	0
Charitable Contribution Expense		0		0
Reportable Segments | Bromine
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	377,752	279,748	737,331	560,195
Adjusted EBITDA	135,683	92,646	264,917	187,286
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	122,461	80,148	239,022	162,261
Depreciation and amortization	13,222	12,498	25,895	25,025
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
Other	0	0	0	0
Restructuring and other		0		0
(Gain) loss on sale of business/interest in properties		0	0	0
Charitable Contribution Expense		0		0
Reportable Segments | Catalysts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	210,325	148,344	428,202	368,587
Adjusted EBITDA	9,792	21,164	26,702	46,591
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(3,383)	8,446	606	21,362
Depreciation and amortization	13,175	12,718	26,096	25,229
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
Other	0	0	0	0
Restructuring and other		0		0
(Gain) loss on sale of business/interest in properties		0	0	0
Charitable Contribution Expense		0		0
Reportable Segments | Reportable Segments Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	640,683	223,251	1,095,442	449,754
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	571,177	163,187	953,416	328,588
Depreciation and amortization	68,899	58,713	133,019	115,557
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
Other	607	1,351	607	5,609
Restructuring and other		0		0
(Gain) loss on sale of business/interest in properties		0	8,400	0
Charitable Contribution Expense		0		0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	(30,474)	(37,002)
Net income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(164,404)	253,441
Depreciation and amortization	2,094	2,303
Acquisition and integration related costs	5,375	1,915
Interest and financing expenses	41,409	7,152
Income tax expense	89,018	106,985
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(5,038)	(5,471)
Other	$ 1,072	5,315
Restructuring and other		766
(Gain) loss on sale of business/interest in properties		(429,408)	$ 0	(429,408)
Charitable Contribution Expense		$ 20,000		$ 20,000