Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2025	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2025	Sep. 30, 2024
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,307,829	$ 1,354,692	$ 3,714,702	$ 4,145,813
Depreciation and amortization	(164,483)	(163,502)	(494,968)	(425,532)
Interest and financing expenses	(50,959)	(47,760)	(149,875)	(120,916)
Income tax benefit (expense)	30,565	(110,853)	449	(76,472)
Proportionate share of Windfield income tax expense	(20,023)	(99,523)	(78,499)	(292,992)
Acquisition and integration related costs	(1,883)	(439)	(5,091)	(3,927)
Restructuring and asset write-offs	(2,321)	(860,864)	(5,772)	(1,194,614)
Goodwill impairment charges	(181,070)	0	(181,070)	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items	(367)	331	(978)	993
(Loss) gain in fair value of public equity securities	7,980	(4,983)	3,144	(65,922)
Other	(3,763)	7,103	(13,038)	35,546
Net loss attributable to Albemarle Corporation	(160,694)	(1,068,992)	(96,449)	(1,254,742)
Energy Storage
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment charges			0
Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment charges			0
Ketjen
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment charges			(181,070)
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,307,829	1,354,692	3,714,702	4,145,813
Cost of goods sold	(1,035,436)	(1,287,242)	(2,780,710)	(3,801,779)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(89,244)	(112,002)	(272,942)	(338,348)
Other segment items	(10,693)	(20,086)	(32,986)	(60,155)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	73,484	307,743	243,000	962,727
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12,753)	(8,472)	(32,999)	(33,479)
Adjusted EBITDA	233,187	234,633	838,065	874,779
Depreciation and amortization	(162,399)	(161,808)	(488,081)	(420,416)
Reportable Segments | Energy Storage
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	708,755	767,291	1,950,976	2,398,299
Cost of goods sold	(603,873)	(858,842)	(1,496,278)	(2,503,146)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(44,624)	(64,963)	(137,871)	(196,991)
Other segment items	(1,607)	(6,550)	(5,816)	(19,531)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	65,426	305,951	219,146	945,231
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Adjusted EBITDA	124,077	142,887	530,157	623,862
Depreciation and amortization	(122,100)	(124,346)	(369,623)	(312,053)
Reportable Segments | Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	344,960	342,376	1,017,534	993,041
Cost of goods sold	(233,884)	(247,958)	(705,542)	(709,360)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(20,797)	(22,828)	(65,006)	(74,530)
Other segment items	(1,982)	(6,845)	(6,800)	(20,043)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12,753)	(8,472)	(32,999)	(33,479)
Adjusted EBITDA	75,544	56,273	207,187	155,629
Depreciation and amortization	(27,007)	(24,474)	(78,408)	(70,081)
Reportable Segments | Ketjen
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	254,114	245,025	746,192	754,473
Cost of goods sold	(197,679)	(180,442)	(578,890)	(589,273)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(23,823)	(24,211)	(70,065)	(66,827)
Other segment items	(7,104)	(6,691)	(20,370)	(20,581)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments	8,058	1,792	23,854	17,496
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Adjusted EBITDA	33,566	35,473	100,721	95,288
Depreciation and amortization	(13,292)	(12,988)	(40,050)	(38,282)
Corporate expenses, net
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	(7,557)	(23,135)	(8,816)	14,315
Depreciation and amortization	$ (2,084)	$ (1,694)	$ (6,887)	$ (5,116)