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	189,473				127,496	127,496	61,977
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(40,354)			(40,304)		(40,304)	(50)
Cash dividends declared	(197,927)				(136,749)	(136,749)	(61,178)
Stock-based compensation	13,981		13,981			13,981
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	(888)		(888)			(888)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		263,875
Exercise of stock options	16,220	$ 3	16,217			16,220
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		9,918,778
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)		(48,704)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(7,755)	$ (1)	(7,754)			(7,755)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021		116,976,318
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	5,895,232	$ 1,170	2,913,383	(366,436)	3,145,999	5,694,116	201,116
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021		116,944,511
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	6,365,771	$ 1,169	2,907,981	(328,001)	3,584,400	6,165,549	200,222
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	(374,433)				(392,781)	(392,781)	18,348
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(38,409)			(38,435)		(38,435)	26
Cash dividends declared	(63,100)				(45,620)	(45,620)	(17,480)
Stock-based compensation	4,203		4,203			4,203
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	23		23			23
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		22,226
Exercise of stock options	1,885	$ 1	1,884			1,885
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		12,688
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(3,107)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(708)		(708)			(708)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021		116,976,318
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	5,895,232	$ 1,170	2,913,383	(366,436)	3,145,999	5,694,116	201,116
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	1,653,345				1,557,371	1,557,371	95,974
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(324,975)			(324,859)		(324,859)	(116)
Cash dividends declared	(183,003)				(138,795)	(138,795)	(44,208)
Stock-based compensation	24,213		24,213			24,213
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		16,166
Exercise of stock options	1,203		1,203			1,203
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		176,293
Issuance of common stock, net	387	$ 2	385			387
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(62,428)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(12,150)	$ (1)	(12,149)			(12,150)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022		117,145,364
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	6,964,627	$ 1,171	2,933,659	(717,309)	4,515,115	6,732,636	231,991
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022		117,121,748
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	6,300,975	$ 1,171	2,927,086	(507,138)	3,664,172	6,085,291	215,684
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	931,206				897,215	897,215	33,991
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(210,172)			(210,171)		(210,171)	(1)
Cash dividends declared	(63,955)				(46,272)	(46,272)	(17,683)
Stock-based compensation	7,405		7,405			7,405
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		8,377
Exercise of stock options	735		735			735
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		21,597
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(6,358)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(1,567)		(1,567)			(1,567)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022		117,145,364
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 6,964,627	$ 1,171	$ 2,933,659	$ (717,309)	$ 4,515,115	$ 6,732,636	$ 231,991