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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Components and Activity in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Net of Deferred Income Taxes) (Footnotes) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |  |
Amendment amount of certain U.S. pension and defined contribution plans that were approved by Board of Directors |  | $ (4.5)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAmendments
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |  |
Supplemental Employee Retirement plan settlement amount in connection with former CEO and executive chairman |  | 6.5 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanSettlementsBenefitObligation / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_SupplementalEmployeeRetirementPlanDefinedBenefitMember
Foreign Currency Translation |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |  |
Write-offs of foreign currency translation adjustments of phosphorous flame retardants business | 17.8 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIRealizedUponSaleOrLiquidationBeforeTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember | 12.3 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIRealizedUponSaleOrLiquidationBeforeTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
1.875% Senior Notes |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax | 12.8 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember |
1.875% Senior Notes | Net Investment Hedge |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax | 12.8 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = alb_OnePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |
Forward Contracts |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax | 5.2 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember |
Forward Contracts | Net Investment Hedge |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax | 5.2 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember |
Interest Rate Swap | Interest Rate Swap | JP Morgan |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax | $ (33.4)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |

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- Definition The amount of increase or decrease due to a change in the terms of an existing plan or the initiation of a new plan. A plan amendment may increase or decrease benefits, including those attributed to years of service already rendered. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 60 -Glossary Plan Amendment -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6520743 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 30 -Glossary Plan Amendment -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6520782 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition The amount of decrease that relates to an irrevocable action that relieves the employer (or the plan) of primary responsibility for a benefit obligation and eliminates significant risks related to the obligation and the assets used to effect the settlement. Examples of transactions that constitute a settlement include (a) making lump-sum cash payments to plan participants in exchange for their rights to receive specified benefits and (b) purchasing nonparticipating annuity contracts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 30 -Section 15 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7577095&loc=d3e8001-114927 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(10) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount before tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for translation gain (loss) realized upon the sale or liquidation of an investment in a foreign entity and foreign currency hedges that are designated and qualified as hedging instruments for hedges of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e637-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e689-108580 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e709-108580 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6915805&loc=d3e32211-110900 + Details
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