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, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 5,142,733	$ 5,377,526	$ 9,617,203
Depreciation and amortization		(658,678)	(588,638)	(429,944)
Interest and financing expenses		(207,651)	(165,619)	(116,072)
Income tax expense		(156,881)	(87,085)	(430,277)
Proportionate share of Windfield income tax expense		(94,549)	(299,193)	(779,703)
Gain on change in interest in properties/sale of business, net	$ 71,200	0	0	71,190
Acquisition and integration related costs		(8,303)	(6,223)	(26,767)
Restructuring and asset write-offs		(7,893)	(1,180,806)	(9,491)
Goodwill impairment		(181,070)	0	(6,765)
Long-lived asset impairment		(245,600)	0	0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items		(17,710)	11,335	7,971
(Loss) gain in fair value of public equity securities		11,137	(70,758)	(44,732)
Legal accrual			0	(218,510)
Other		(41,423)	67,760	10,588
Net (loss) income attributable to Albemarle Corporation		(510,628)	(1,179,449)	1,573,476
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		5,142,733	5,377,526	9,617,203
Cost of goods sold		(3,852,133)	(4,737,902)	(8,013,598)
Selling, general and administrative expense		(369,563)	(433,991)	(460,750)
Other segment items		(43,749)	(77,629)	(79,323)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		291,482	1,032,359	2,617,289
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(45,418)	(43,253)	(96,850)
Adjusted EBITDA		1,123,352	1,117,110	3,583,971
Depreciation and amortization		(649,797)	(581,447)	(421,132)
Reportable Segments | Energy Storage
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		2,710,035	3,015,121	7,078,998
Cost of goods sold		(2,084,515)	(2,992,566)	(6,205,403)
Selling, general and administrative expense		(185,773)	(249,805)	(266,190)
Other segment items		(7,785)	(25,101)	(22,632)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		265,253	1,009,891	2,596,820
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
Adjusted EBITDA		697,215	757,540	3,181,593
Depreciation and amortization		(497,903)	(434,916)	(258,436)
Reportable Segments | Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		1,366,435	1,325,983	1,482,425
Cost of goods sold		(948,295)	(935,017)	(961,177)
Selling, general and administrative expense		(87,981)	(93,533)	(100,173)
Other segment items		(9,002)	(25,676)	(25,719)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(45,418)	(43,253)	(96,850)
Adjusted EBITDA		275,739	228,504	298,506
Depreciation and amortization		(105,390)	(95,043)	(86,673)
Reportable Segments | Ketjen
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		1,066,263	1,036,422	1,055,780
Cost of goods sold		(819,323)	(810,319)	(847,018)
Selling, general and administrative expense		(95,809)	(90,653)	(94,387)
Other segment items		(26,962)	(26,852)	(30,972)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments		26,229	22,468	20,469
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
Adjusted EBITDA		150,398	131,066	103,872
Depreciation and amortization		(46,504)	(51,488)	(76,023)
Corporate expenses, net
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA		(25,359)	22,668	(37,983)
Depreciation and amortization		$ (8,881)	$ (7,191)	$ (8,812)