Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,430,385	$ 2,370,190	$ 2,791,121	$ 4,950,442
Depreciation and amortization	(138,279)	(93,085)	(262,030)	(180,356)
Interest and financing expenses	(35,187)	(25,577)	(73,156)	(52,354)
Income tax benefit (expense)	30,660	(42,987)	34,381	(319,950)
Proportionate share of Windfield income tax expense	(119,780)	(233,976)	(193,469)	(399,961)
Acquisition and integration related costs	(1,581)	(6,502)	(3,488)	(11,610)
Restructuring and other charges	(2,525)	(7,439)	(18,861)	(7,439)
Capital Project Assets Write-off and OCI Reclass	(294,940)	0	(314,889)	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	337	(612)	662	(1,213)
(Loss) gain in fair value of public equity securities	(17,780)	15,020	(60,939)	60,846
Legal Accrual	0	(218,510)	0	(218,510)
Other	4,517	(2,531)	28,443	(8,776)
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(188,198)	650,043	(185,750)	1,888,623
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	374,990	1,268,162	640,146	3,012,555
Depreciation and amortization	(136,540)	(90,923)	(258,608)	(176,120)
Reportable Segments | Energy Storage
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	830,110	1,763,065	1,631,008	3,706,747
Adjusted EBITDA	282,979	1,165,080	480,975	2,732,772
Depreciation and amortization	(100,433)	(56,540)	(187,707)	(108,702)
Reportable Segments | Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	334,600	371,302	650,665	790,080
Adjusted EBITDA	54,175	60,200	99,356	222,358
Depreciation and amortization	(23,170)	(21,299)	(45,607)	(41,191)
Reportable Segments | Ketjen
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	265,675	235,823	509,448	453,615
Adjusted EBITDA	37,836	42,882	59,815	57,425
Depreciation and amortization	(12,937)	(13,084)	(25,294)	(26,227)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	11,370	(1,920)	37,450	15,391
Depreciation and amortization	$ (1,739)	$ (2,162)	$ (3,422)	$ (4,236)