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	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
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions (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
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions (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
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	2,273,835				2,191,156	2,191,156	82,679
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(140,337)			(140,310)		(140,310)	(27)
Cash dividends declared	(167,043)				(140,795)	(140,795)	(26,248)
Stock-based compensation	31,186		31,186			31,186
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		1,812
Exercise of stock options	117		117			117
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		293,891
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 3	(3)			0
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions (in shares)		(112,352)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(26,166)	$ (1)	(26,165)			(26,166)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023		117,351,717
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	10,162,439	$ 1,174	2,945,975	(700,972)	7,651,638	9,897,815	264,624
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023		117,339,879
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	10,088,040	$ 1,174	2,936,036	(517,946)	7,396,045	9,815,309	272,731
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	320,693				302,533	302,533	18,160
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(183,045)			(183,026)		(183,026)	(19)
Cash dividends declared	(73,188)				(46,940)	(46,940)	(26,248)
Stock-based compensation	11,159		11,159			11,159
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		592
Exercise of stock options	36		36			36
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		17,031
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions (in shares)		(5,785)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(1,256)		(1,256)			(1,256)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023		117,351,717
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 10,162,439	$ 1,174	$ 2,945,975	$ (700,972)	$ 7,651,638	$ 9,897,815	$ 264,624