CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		106,040,215
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 4,093,580	$ 1,061	$ 1,383,446	$ (395,735)	$ 2,943,478	$ 3,932,250	$ 161,330
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	446,615				375,764	375,764	70,851
Other comprehensive income (loss)	69,850			69,603		69,603	247
Cash dividends declared	(196,051)				(163,990)	(163,990)	(32,061)
Stock-based compensation	19,306		19,306			19,306
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		682,068
Exercise of stock options	40,437	$ 7	40,430			40,437
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		185,918
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 2	(2)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(65,832)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(5,143)	$ (1)	(5,142)			(5,143)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		106,842,369
Ending 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]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 1.54
Net income	$ 199,942				123,672	123,672	76,270
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(66,478)			(66,318)		(66,318)	(160)
Cash dividends declared	(278,521)				(182,385)	(182,385)	(96,136)
Stock-based compensation	18,818		18,818			18,818
Fees related to public issuance of common stock	(888)		(888)			(888)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		302,151
Exercise of stock options	18,392	$ 3	18,389			18,392
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		9,919,755
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)		(48,942)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(8,140)	$ (1)	(8,139)			(8,140)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		117,015,333
Ending 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]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 1.56
Net income	$ 2,815,131				2,689,816	2,689,816	125,315
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(168,295)			(168,212)		(168,212)	(83)
Cash dividends declared	(282,431)				(185,078)	(185,078)	(97,353)
Stock-based compensation	$ 31,390		31,390			31,390
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	32,581	32,581
Exercise of stock options	$ 2,396	$ 1	2,395			2,396
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		186,768
Issuance of common stock, net	387	$ 2	385			387
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(66,316)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(13,338)	$ (1)	(13,337)			(13,338)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022		117,168,366
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 8,190,847	$ 1,172	$ 2,940,840	$ (560,662)	$ 5,601,277	$ 7,982,627	$ 208,220
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 1.58