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	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	$ 0	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	$ 0	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
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	1,953,142				1,888,623	1,888,623	64,519
Other comprehensive (loss) income	42,708			42,716		42,716	(8)
Cash dividends declared	(93,855)				(93,855)	(93,855)	0
Stock-based compensation	20,027		20,027			20,027
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		1,220
Exercise of stock options	81	$ 0	81			81
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		276,860
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 3	(3)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(106,567)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(24,910)	$ (1)	(24,909)			(24,910)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023		117,339,879
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	10,088,040	$ 1,174	2,936,036	(517,946)	7,396,045	9,815,309	272,731
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023		117,299,392
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2023	9,459,070	$ 1,173	2,931,961	(513,337)	6,792,938	9,212,735	246,335
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	676,439				650,043	650,043	26,396
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(4,609)			(4,609)		(4,609)	0
Cash dividends declared	(46,936)				(46,936)	(46,936)	0
Stock-based compensation	10,369		10,369			10,369
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		0
Exercise of stock options	0		0			0
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		71,688
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(31,201)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(6,293)		(6,293)			(6,293)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023		117,339,879
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	$ 10,088,040	$ 1,174	$ 2,936,036	$ (517,946)	$ 7,396,045	$ 9,815,309	$ 272,731