Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Total Albemarle Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 910		$ (100,642)	$ 1,165,503	$ 1,065,771	$ 50,712	$ 1,116,483
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008	90,980,309
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income				178,368	178,368	11,255	189,623
Foreign currency translation, net of tax			34,272		34,272		34,272
Pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax			(25,100)		(25,100)		(25,100)
Other, net of tax			(390)		(390)		(390)
Total comprehensive (loss) income			8,782	178,368	187,150	11,255	198,405
Cash dividends declared				(45,763)	(45,763)	(14,681)	(60,444)
Stock-based compensation and other		8,730		(5,582)	3,148		3,148
Exercise of stock options	3	4,150			4,153		4,153
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	341,666
Shares repurchased and retired	(2)	(5,810)			(5,812)		(5,812)
Shares repurchased and retired (in shares)	(174,900)
Tax benefit related to stock plans		2,111			2,111		2,111
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)	584,015
Issuance of common stock, net	6	(6)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(2)	(517)		(4,543)	(5,062)		(5,062)
Acquisitions						336	336
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)	(221,991)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	915	8,658	(91,860)	1,287,983	1,205,696	47,622	1,253,318
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009	91,509,099
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income				323,720	323,720	13,639	337,359
Foreign currency translation, net of tax			(62,629)		(62,629)		(62,629)
Pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax			(9,812)		(9,812)		(9,812)
Other, net of tax			105		105		105
Total comprehensive (loss) income			(72,336)	323,720	251,384	13,639	265,023
Deconsolidation of Stannica LLC						(8,121)	(8,121)
Cumulative dividend adjustment on JBC noncontrolling interest						8,017	8,017
Cash dividends declared				(51,184)	(51,184)	(1,485)	(52,669)
Stock-based compensation and other		13,995			13,995		13,995
Exercise of stock options	5	7,130			7,135		7,135
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	494,559
Shares repurchased and retired	(4)	(14,941)			(14,945)		(14,945)
Shares repurchased and retired (in shares)	(400,356)
Tax benefit related to stock plans		7,981			7,981		7,981
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)	81,864
Issuance of common stock, net	1	(1)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1)	(3,987)			(3,988)		(3,988)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)	(91,182)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	916	18,835	(164,196)	1,560,519	1,416,074	59,672	1,475,746
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	91,593,984
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income				436,280	436,280	28,083	464,363
Foreign currency translation, net of tax			(13,360)		(13,360)	(205)	(13,565)
Pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax			(45,528)		(45,528)		(45,528)
Other, net of tax			162		162		162
Total comprehensive (loss) income			(58,726)	436,280	377,554	27,878	405,432
Cash dividends declared				(60,450)	(60,450)		(60,450)
Stock-based compensation and other		26,556			26,556		26,556
Exercise of stock options	2	2,228			2,230		2,230
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	169,350						169,350
Shares repurchased and retired	(30)	(39,870)		(138,232)	(178,132)		(178,132)
Shares repurchased and retired (in shares)	(3,000,000)
Tax benefit related to stock plans		10,574			10,574		10,574
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)	131,713
Issuance of common stock, net	1	(1)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1)	(3,128)			(3,129)		(3,129)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)	(53,807)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 888	$ 15,194	$ (222,922)	$ 1,798,117	$ 1,591,277	$ 87,550	$ 1,678,827
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	88,841,240