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, 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	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]
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
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]
Net income	1,670,543				1,573,476	1,573,476	97,067
Other comprehensive income (loss)	32,254			32,136		32,136	118
Cash dividends declared	(240,224)				(187,738)	(187,738)	(52,486)
Stock-based compensation	$ 38,957		38,957			38,957
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	3,124	3,124
Exercise of stock options	$ 190	$ 0	190			190
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		298,781
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 3	(3)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(114,001)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(27,468)	$ (1)	(27,467)			(27,468)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023		117,356,270
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 9,665,099	$ 1,174	$ 2,952,517	$ (528,526)	$ 6,987,015	$ 9,412,180	$ 252,919