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Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |
Derivative, notional amount | $ 479,900,000 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount | $ 321,400,000 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount |
Forward Contracts |  |  |
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |
Derivative, notional amount | 479,900,000 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember | 321,400,000 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember |
Forward Contracts | Other Accounts Receivable |  |  |
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value of foreign currency forward contracts, assets | 600,000 us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember | 200,000 us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember |
Forward Contracts | Other income (expenses), net |  |  |
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |
Recognized gains (losses) of foreign currency forward contracts | (17,800,000)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = alb_OtherIncomeExpenseNetMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember | (1,100,000)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = alb_OtherIncomeExpenseNetMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember | 5,100,000 us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = alb_OtherIncomeExpenseNetMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Forward Contracts | Other, net |  |  |
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |
Change in the fair value of foreign currency forward contracts | 17,800,000 alb_ChangeInFairValueOfForeignCurrencyForwardContracts / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = alb_OtherNetMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember | 1,100,000 alb_ChangeInFairValueOfForeignCurrencyForwardContracts / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = alb_OtherNetMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember | (5,100,000)alb_ChangeInFairValueOfForeignCurrencyForwardContracts / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = alb_OtherNetMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Cash settlements | $ (18,300,000)us-gaap_DerivativeCashReceivedOnHedge / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = alb_OtherNetMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember | $ (1,800,000)us-gaap_DerivativeCashReceivedOnHedge / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = alb_OtherNetMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember | $ 4,800,000 us-gaap_DerivativeCashReceivedOnHedge / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis = alb_OtherNetMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember

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- Definition The change in the fair value of foreign currency forward contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 13 -Sentence Column B + Details
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- Definition The amount of cash received during the period on settlement of a hedge. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) of derivative instruments not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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- Definition Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all foreign currency derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624163-113959 + Details
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