Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	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, 2023			117,356,270	0
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 9,665,099	$ 9,412,180	$ 1,174	$ 0	$ 2,952,517	$ (528,526)	$ 6,987,015	$ 252,919
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(1,220,588)	(1,254,742)					(1,254,742)	34,154
Other comprehensive income (loss)	58,925	58,756				58,756		169
Common stock dividends declared	(178,793)	(141,617)					(141,617)	(37,176)
Mandatory convertible preferred stock cumulative dividends	(94,959)	(94,959)					(94,959)
Stock-based compensation	25,105	25,105			25,105
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			1,920
Exercise of stock options	114	114			114
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			273,834
Issuance of common stock, net	11,546	11,546	$ 3		11,543
Issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock, net (in shares)				2,300,000
Issuance of mandatory convertible preferred stock, net	2,235,105	2,235,105		$ 2,235,105
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions (in shares)			(94,190)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(10,893)	(10,893)	$ (1)		(10,892)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2024			117,537,834	2,300,000
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2024	10,490,661	10,240,595	$ 1,176	$ 2,235,105	2,978,387	(469,770)	5,495,697	250,066
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2024			117,528,174	2,300,000
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2024	11,483,155	11,222,559	$ 1,175	$ 2,235,105	2,969,851	(637,551)	6,653,979	260,596
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(1,060,641)	(1,068,992)					(1,068,992)	8,351
Other comprehensive income (loss)	167,939	167,781				167,781		158
Common stock dividends declared	(66,642)	(47,603)					(47,603)	(19,039)
Mandatory convertible preferred stock cumulative dividends	(41,687)	(41,687)					(41,687)
Stock-based compensation	8,723	8,723			8,723
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			500
Exercise of stock options	28	28			28
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			11,621
Issuance of common stock, net	1	1	$ 1
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions (in shares)			(2,461)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(215)	(215)			(215)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2024			117,537,834	2,300,000
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2024	10,490,661	10,240,595	$ 1,176	$ 2,235,105	2,978,387	(469,770)	5,495,697	250,066
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2024			117,559,774	2,300,000
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2024	10,199,688	9,961,517	$ 1,176	$ 2,235,105	2,985,606	(742,062)	5,481,692	238,171
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(63,450)	(96,449)					(96,449)	32,999
Other comprehensive income (loss)	373,465	373,470				373,470		(5)
Common stock dividends declared	(142,967)	(142,967)					(142,967)
Mandatory convertible preferred stock cumulative dividends	(125,063)	(125,063)					(125,063)
Stock-based compensation	27,281	27,281			27,281
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			26,601
Exercise of stock options	1,494	1,494			1,494
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			146,916
Change in ownership interest of noncontrolling interest	1,780							1,780
Issuance of common stock, net	0	0	$ 1		(1)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions (in shares)			(41,241)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(3,170)	(3,170)			(3,170)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2025			117,692,050	2,300,000
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2025	10,269,058	9,996,113	$ 1,177	$ 2,235,105	3,011,210	(368,592)	5,117,213	272,945
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2025			117,669,251	2,300,000
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2025	10,498,984	10,240,526	$ 1,177	$ 2,235,105	3,001,531	(364,544)	5,367,257	258,458
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(147,941)	(160,694)					(160,694)	12,753
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,094)	(4,048)				(4,048)		(46)
Common stock dividends declared	(47,662)	(47,662)					(47,662)
Mandatory convertible preferred stock cumulative dividends	(41,688)	(41,688)					(41,688)
Stock-based compensation	9,600	9,600			9,600
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			5,450
Exercise of stock options	308	308			308
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			20,447
Change in ownership interest of noncontrolling interest	1,780							1,780
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions (in shares)			(3,098)
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation award distributions	(229)	(229)			(229)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2025			117,692,050	2,300,000
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2025	$ 10,269,058	$ 9,996,113	$ 1,177	$ 2,235,105	$ 3,011,210	$ (368,592)	$ 5,117,213	$ 272,945