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Segment Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Footnote) (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Jan. 12, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Utilization of inventory markup | $ 48,200,000alb_UtilizationofInventoryMarkup |
Cost of goods sold |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Utilization of inventory markup | 40,300,000alb_UtilizationofInventoryMarkup / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember |
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Utilization of inventory markup | 7,900,000alb_UtilizationofInventoryMarkup / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = alb_EquityinNetIncomeofUnconsolidatedInvestmentsMember |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Inventory markup |  | $ 103,000,000alb_Inventorymarkup / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member

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- Definition Inventory markup + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_Inventorymarkup
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Utilization of Inventory Markup + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alb_UtilizationofInventoryMarkup
Namespace Prefix: | alb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=alb_RockwoodHoldingsInc.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=alb_EquityinNetIncomeofUnconsolidatedInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |