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, 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	281,547				253,383	253,383	28,164
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,222)			(1,169)		(1,169)	(53)
Cash dividends declared	(46,261)				(46,261)	(46,261)	0
Stock-based compensation	5,384		5,384			5,384
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		500
Exercise of stock options	32	$ 0	32			32
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		151,630
Issuance of common stock, net	387	$ 2	385			387
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(55,069)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(10,422)	$ (1)	(10,421)			(10,422)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022		117,112,394
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	6,035,052	$ 1,171	2,915,387	(393,619)	3,303,661	5,826,600	208,452
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022		117,168,366
Beginning 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]
Net income	1,276,703				1,238,580	1,238,580	38,123
Other comprehensive (loss) income	47,317			47,325		47,325	(8)
Cash dividends declared	(46,919)				(46,919)	(46,919)	0
Stock-based compensation	9,658		9,658			9,658
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		1,220
Exercise of stock options	81	$ 0	81			81
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		205,172
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 2	(2)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(75,366)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(18,617)	$ (1)	(18,616)			(18,617)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023		117,299,392
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2023	$ 9,459,070	$ 1,173	$ 2,931,961	$ (513,337)	$ 6,792,938	$ 9,212,735	$ 246,335