Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($)	Total	Total Albemarle Shareholders’ Equity	Common Stock	Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022			117,168,366	0
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 8,190,847,000	$ 7,982,627,000	$ 1,172,000	$ 0	$ 2,940,840,000	$ (560,662,000)	$ 5,601,277,000	$ 208,220,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	1,276,703,000	1,238,580,000					1,238,580,000	38,123,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income	47,317,000	47,325,000				47,325,000		(8,000)
Common stock dividends declared	(46,919,000)	(46,919,000)					(46,919,000)	0
Mandatory convertible preferred stock cumulative dividends	0
Stock-based compensation	9,658,000	9,658,000			9,658,000
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			1,220
Exercise of stock options	81,000	81,000	$ 0		81,000
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			205,172
Issuance of common stock, net	0	0	$ 2,000		(2,000)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions (in shares)			(75,366)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(18,617,000)	(18,617,000)	$ (1,000)		(18,616,000)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023			117,299,392	0
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2023	9,459,070,000	9,212,735,000	$ 1,173,000	$ 0	2,931,961,000	(513,337,000)	6,792,938,000	246,335,000
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023			117,356,270	0
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2023	9,665,099,000	9,412,180,000	$ 1,174,000	$ 0	2,952,517,000	(528,526,000)	6,987,015,000	252,919,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	16,647,000	2,448,000					2,448,000	14,199,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(68,880,000)	(68,679,000)				(68,679,000)		(201,000)
Common stock dividends declared	(47,011,000)	(47,011,000)					(47,011,000)	0
Mandatory convertible preferred stock cumulative dividends	(11,584,000)	(11,584,000)					(11,584,000)
Stock-based compensation	9,057,000	9,057,000			9,057,000
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			1,420
Exercise of stock options	86,000	86,000	$ 0		86,000
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			260,750
Issuance of common stock, net	11,545,000	11,545,000	$ 2,000		11,543,000
Issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock, net (in shares)				2,300,000
Issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock, net	2,235,379,000	2,235,379,000		$ 2,235,379,000
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions (in shares)			(91,273)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(10,619,000)	(10,619,000)	$ (1,000)		(10,618,000)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2024			117,527,167	2,300,000
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2024	$ 11,799,719,000	$ 11,532,802,000	$ 1,175,000	$ 2,235,379,000	$ 2,962,585,000	$ (597,205,000)	$ 6,930,868,000	$ 266,917,000