Consolidated Statements Of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders' Equity	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,678,827	$ 888	$ 15,194	$ 60,329	$ 1,514,866	$ 1,591,277	$ 87,550
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		88,841,240
Net income	172,228				164,351	164,351	7,877
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(27,138)			(27,293)		(27,293)	155
Cash dividends declared	(43,343)				(35,715)	(35,715)	(7,628)
Stock-based compensation and other	10,004		10,004			10,004
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		656,235
Exercise of stock options	13,430	7	13,423			13,430
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(215,000)
Shares repurchased	(13,695)	(2)	(13,693)			(13,695)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	12,329		12,329			12,329
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		339,620
Issuance of common stock, net		3	(3)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(137,759)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(8,998)	(1)	(8,997)			(8,998)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	1,793,644	895	28,257	33,036	1,643,502	1,705,690	87,954
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2012		89,484,336
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,932,008	889	2,761	85,264	1,744,684	1,833,598	98,410
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		88,899,209
Net income	180,644				166,726	166,726	13,918
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(29,011)			(29,082)		(29,082)	71
Cash dividends declared	(40,753)				(40,753)	(40,753)
Stock-based compensation and other	4,144		4,144			4,144
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		132,238
Exercise of stock options	3,917	1	3,916			3,917
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(7,814,045)
Shares repurchased	(582,298)	(78)	(4,556)		(577,664)	(582,298)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	2,519		2,519			2,519
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		238,939
Issuance of common stock, net		3	(3)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(90,957)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(5,777)	(1)	(5,776)			(5,777)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	$ 1,465,393	$ 814	$ 3,005	$ 56,182	$ 1,292,993	$ 1,352,994	$ 112,399
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2013		81,365,384