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Supplemental Cash Flow Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flow Supplemental Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |
Income taxes (net of refunds of $6,035, $14,296 and $1,849 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively) | $ 56,174 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet | $ 51,772 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet | $ 112,442 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet
Interest (net of capitalization) | 33,604 us-gaap_InterestPaidNet | 29,629 us-gaap_InterestPaidNet | 31,144 us-gaap_InterestPaidNet
Phosphorous Flame Retardant Business Exit |  |  |
Cash Flow Supplemental Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |
Decrease in property, plant and equipment | 0 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGrossPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember | 0 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGrossPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember | (41,120)us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGrossPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember
Decrease in accumulated depreciation | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember | (17,870)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember
Decrease in other intangibles, net of amortization | 0 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIntangibleAssetsCurrent / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember | 0 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIntangibleAssetsCurrent / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember | (27,384)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIntangibleAssetsCurrent / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember
Increase in accumulated other comprehensive income | 0 alb_IncreaseDecreaseInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember | 0 alb_IncreaseDecreaseInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember | 12,268 alb_IncreaseDecreaseInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = alb_PhosphorousFlameRetardantBusinessExitMember
Other Restructuring Charges |  |  |
Cash Flow Supplemental Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |
Decrease in property, plant and equipment | 0 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGrossPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = alb_OtherRestructuringChargesMember | 0 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGrossPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = alb_OtherRestructuringChargesMember | (5,002)us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGrossPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = alb_OtherRestructuringChargesMember
Decrease in accumulated depreciation | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = alb_OtherRestructuringChargesMember | 0 us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = alb_OtherRestructuringChargesMember | (1,588)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = alb_OtherRestructuringChargesMember
Pension Curtailment Gains Losses |  |  |
Cash Flow Supplemental Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase in accumulated other comprehensive income | $ 0 alb_IncreaseDecreaseInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNet / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = alb_PensionCurtailmentGainsLossesMember | $ 0 alb_IncreaseDecreaseInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNet / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = alb_PensionCurtailmentGainsLossesMember | $ (4,507)alb_IncreaseDecreaseInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNet / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = alb_PensionCurtailmentGainsLossesMember

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- Definition The change during the period, from the beginning balance of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization (relating to property, plant and equipment) to the ending balance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 + Details
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- Definition The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income, net of any cash received during the current period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in intangible assets (for example patents and licenses). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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