Segment and Geographic Area Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 5,377,526	$ 9,617,203	$ 7,320,104
Depreciation and amortization		(588,638)	(429,944)	(300,841)
Interest and financing expenses		(165,619)	(116,072)	(122,973)
Income tax expense		(87,085)	(430,277)	(390,588)
Proportionate share of Windfield income tax expense		(299,193)	(779,703)	(321,591)
(Gain) loss on change in interest in properties/sale of business, net	$ 71,200	0	71,190	(8,400)
Acquisition and integration related costs		(6,223)	(26,767)	(16,259)
Restructuring and asset write-offs		(1,180,806)	(9,491)	0
Goodwill impairment		0	(6,765)	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		11,335	7,971	57,032
(Loss) gain in fair value of public equity securities		(70,758)	(44,732)	4,319
Legal accrual			(218,510)
Other		67,760	10,588	(8,331)
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		(1,179,449)	1,573,476	2,689,816
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		5,377,526	9,617,203	7,320,104
Cost of goods sold		(4,737,902)	(8,013,598)	(3,959,831)
Selling, general and administrative expense		(433,991)	(460,750)	(348,589)
Other segment items		(77,629)	(79,323)	(67,197)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		1,032,359	2,617,289	1,088,882
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(43,253)	(96,850)	(124,963)
Adjusted EBITDA		1,117,110	3,583,971	3,908,406
Depreciation and amortization		(581,447)	(421,132)	(294,860)
Reportable Segments | Energy Storage
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		3,015,121	7,078,998	4,660,945
Cost of goods sold		(2,992,566)	(6,205,403)	(2,170,867)
Selling, general and administrative expense		(249,805)	(266,190)	(186,311)
Other segment items		(25,101)	(22,632)	(18,389)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		1,009,891	2,596,820	1,066,978
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
Adjusted EBITDA		757,540	3,181,593	3,352,356
Depreciation and amortization		(434,916)	(258,436)	(175,738)
Goodwill impairment			0
Reportable Segments | Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		1,325,983	1,482,425	1,759,587
Cost of goods sold		(935,017)	(961,177)	(1,013,247)
Selling, general and administrative expense		(93,533)	(100,173)	(77,382)
Other segment items		(25,676)	(25,719)	(16,677)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(43,253)	(96,850)	(124,963)
Adjusted EBITDA		228,504	298,506	527,318
Depreciation and amortization		(95,043)	(86,673)	(67,705)
Goodwill impairment			0
Reportable Segments | Ketjen
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		1,036,422	1,055,780	899,572
Cost of goods sold		(810,319)	(847,018)	(775,717)
Selling, general and administrative expense		(90,653)	(94,387)	(84,896)
Other segment items		(26,852)	(30,972)	(32,131)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		22,468	20,469	21,904
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
Adjusted EBITDA		131,066	103,872	28,732
Depreciation and amortization		(51,488)	(76,023)	(51,417)
Goodwill impairment			(6,765)
Corporate expenses, net
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		22,668	(37,983)	(110,958)
Depreciation and amortization		$ (7,191)	$ (8,812)	$ (5,981)