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Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended |  |
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Feb. 03, 2014 tranche | Apr. 30, 2014 | May 01, 2014 | May 10, 2013 | Nov. 17, 2014 | Dec. 19, 2013 | Feb. 12, 2013 | Oct. 13, 2011
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock equivalents not included in computation of diluted earnings per share (in dollars per shares) | 662,259 us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) | 15,000,000 us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment for repurchase of common stock | $ 150,000,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock | $ 582,298,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock | $ 63,575,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares available for repurchase | 3,749,340 us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares repurchased (in shares) | 2,190,254 us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 9,198,056 us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 1,092,767 us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock repurchase program, number of shares authorized to be repurchased (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15,000,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember | 5,000,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember
Restricted Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares containing nonforfeitable rights to dividends | 5,600 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Merrill Lynch | Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Forward purchase contract adjustment to fair value (in dollars per share) | $ 0.77 alb_ForwardPurchaseContractAdjustmentToFairValue / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_MerrillLynchMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount |  |  |  | 50,000,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1 / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_MerrillLynchMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of tranches |  |  |  | 2 alb_NumberofTranches / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_MerrillLynchMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Authorized amount per tranche purchased |  |  |  | 25,000,000 alb_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmountPerTranchePurchased / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_MerrillLynchMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Merrill Lynch | Initial Delivery | Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment for repurchase of common stock |  |  |  | 50,000,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_MerrillLynchMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_InitialDeliveryMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock shares (in shares) |  |  |  | 623,248 alb_RepurchaseOfCommonStockShares / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_MerrillLynchMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_InitialDeliveryMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock repurchased during period, value |  |  |  | 40,000,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_MerrillLynchMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_InitialDeliveryMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Merrill Lynch | Final Settlement | Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock shares (in shares) |  |  |  |  | 150,504 alb_RepurchaseOfCommonStockShares / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_MerrillLynchMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_FinalSettlementMember |  |  |  |  |  |
Merrill Lynch | Total | Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock shares (in shares) | 773,752 alb_RepurchaseOfCommonStockShares / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_MerrillLynchMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_TotalDomain |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
JP Morgan | Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Forward purchase contract adjustment to fair value (in dollars per share) |  | $ 1.01 alb_ForwardPurchaseContractAdjustmentToFairValue / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount |  |  |  |  | 100,000,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1 / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of tranches |  |  |  |  | 2 alb_NumberofTranches / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember |  |  |  |  |  |
Authorized amount per tranche purchased |  |  |  |  | 50,000,000 alb_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmountPerTranchePurchased / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember |  |  |  |  |  |
JP Morgan | Initial Delivery | Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment for repurchase of common stock |  |  |  |  |  | 100,000,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_InitialDeliveryMember | 450,000,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_InitialDeliveryMember |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock shares (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  | 1,193,317 alb_RepurchaseOfCommonStockShares / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_InitialDeliveryMember | 5,680,921 alb_RepurchaseOfCommonStockShares / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_InitialDeliveryMember |  |  |  |
Stock repurchased during period, value |  |  |  |  |  | $ 80,000,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_InitialDeliveryMember | $ 360,000,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_InitialDeliveryMember |  |  |  |
JP Morgan | Final Settlement | Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock shares (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 223,185 alb_RepurchaseOfCommonStockShares / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_FinalSettlementMember | 1,384,011 alb_RepurchaseOfCommonStockShares / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_FinalSettlementMember |  |
JP Morgan | Total | Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock shares (in shares) | 1,416,502 alb_RepurchaseOfCommonStockShares / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_TotalDomain | 7,064,932 alb_RepurchaseOfCommonStockShares / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = alb_JPMorganMember / alb_SharesAgreementsAxis = alb_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember / alb_SharesTypeAxis = alb_TotalDomain |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Antidilution -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505113 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Diluted Earnings Per Share -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510752 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Contingent Stock Agreement -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6508534 + Details
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- Definition Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30 -Article 5 + Details
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