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Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits Pension and Postretirement Plan Contributions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |
Pension Contributions | $ 4.5us-gaap_PensionContributions | $ 1.1us-gaap_PensionContributions
Other Postretirement Benefits Payments | 1.5us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitsPayments | 1.4us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitsPayments
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Pension Plan |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |
Expected Contributions to Rockwood Pension Plans for the Remainder of 2015 | $ 3.4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember |

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- Details
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of employer's best estimate of contributions expected to be paid to the plan in the current remaining fiscal period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of cash or cash equivalents contributed during the reporting period by the entity to fund non-pension postretirement benefits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
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- Definition The amount of cash or cash equivalents contributed by the entity to fund its pension plans. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
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Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Period Type: |