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Segment and Geographic Area Information Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | $ 3,128,909,000 | $ 3,589,427,000 | $ 3,374,950,000
Adjusted EBITDA | 818,738,000 | 1,036,781,000 | 1,006,664,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation | (375,764,000) | (533,228,000) | (693,562,000)
Depreciation and amortization | 231,984,000 | 213,484,000 | 200,698,000
Restructuring and other | 19,597,000 | 5,877,000 | 3,838,000
Gain on sale of business | 0 | 0 | (210,428,000)
Acquisition and integration related costs | 17,263,000 | 20,684,000 | 19,377,000
Gain on sale of property | 0 | (14,411,000) | 0
Interest and financing expenses | 73,116,000 | 57,695,000 | 52,405,000
Income tax expense | 54,425,000 | 88,161,000 | 144,826,000
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 40,668,000 | 26,970,000 | 5,285,000
Windfield tax settlement |  | 17,292,000 |
Legal accrual |  |  | 27,027,000
Environmental accrual |  |  | 15,597,000
Albemarle Foundation contribution |  |  | 15,000,000
Indemnification adjustments |  |  | 25,240,000
Note receivable reserve |  | 28,700,000 |
Other | 5,921,000 | 23,035,000 | 14,237,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Restructuring and other | 19,200,000 | 5,900,000 | 3,700,000
Acquisition and integration related costs | 17,300,000 | 19,700,000 | 15,700,000
Gain on sale of property |  | (3,300,000) |
Albemarle Foundation contribution |  |  | 1,200,000
Reportable Segments |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | 846,832,000 | 1,124,015,000 | 1,103,196,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation | 632,355,000 | 841,398,000 | 1,120,325,000
Depreciation and amortization | 213,149,000 | 197,179,000 | 185,931,000
Restructuring and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of business |  |  | 210,428,000
Acquisition and integration related costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of property |  | 0 |
Interest and financing expenses | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense | 0 | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 0 | 0 | 0
Windfield tax settlement |  | 17,292,000 |
Legal accrual |  |  | 0
Environmental accrual |  |  | 0
Albemarle Foundation contribution |  |  | 0
Indemnification adjustments |  |  | 0
Other | 1,328,000 | 3,380,000 | 7,368,000
Reportable Segments | Lithium |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 1,144,778,000 | 1,358,170,000 | 1,228,171,000
Adjusted EBITDA | 393,093,000 | 524,934,000 | 530,773,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation | 277,711,000 | 341,767,000 | 428,212,000
Depreciation and amortization | 112,854,000 | 99,424,000 | 95,193,000
Restructuring and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of business |  |  | 0
Acquisition and integration related costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of property |  | 0 |
Interest and financing expenses | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense | 0 | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 0 | 0 | 0
Windfield tax settlement |  | 17,292,000 |
Legal accrual |  |  | 0
Environmental accrual |  |  | 0
Albemarle Foundation contribution |  |  | 0
Indemnification adjustments |  |  | 0
Other | 2,528,000 | 1,685,000 | 7,368,000
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 964,962,000 | 1,004,216,000 | 917,880,000
Adjusted EBITDA | 323,605,000 | 328,457,000 | 288,116,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation | 274,495,000 | 279,945,000 | 246,509,000
Depreciation and amortization | 50,310,000 | 47,611,000 | 41,607,000
Restructuring and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of business |  |  | 0
Acquisition and integration related costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of property |  | 0 |
Interest and financing expenses | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense | 0 | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 0 | 0 | 0
Windfield tax settlement |  | 0 |
Legal accrual |  |  | 0
Environmental accrual |  |  | 0
Albemarle Foundation contribution |  |  | 0
Indemnification adjustments |  |  | 0
Other | (1,200,000) | 901,000 | 0
Reportable Segments | Catalysts |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 797,914,000 | 1,061,817,000 | 1,101,554,000
Adjusted EBITDA | 130,134,000 | 270,624,000 | 284,307,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation | 80,149,000 | 219,686,000 | 445,604,000
Depreciation and amortization | 49,985,000 | 50,144,000 | 49,131,000
Restructuring and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of business |  |  | 210,428,000
Acquisition and integration related costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of property |  | 0 |
Interest and financing expenses | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense | 0 | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 0 | 0 | 0
Windfield tax settlement |  | 0 |
Legal accrual |  |  | 0
Environmental accrual |  |  | 0
Albemarle Foundation contribution |  |  | 0
Indemnification adjustments |  |  | 0
Other | 0 | 794,000 | 0
All Other |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 221,255,000 | 165,224,000 | 127,186,000
Adjusted EBITDA | 84,821,000 | 49,628,000 | 14,091,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation | 76,323,000 | 41,188,000 | 6,018,000
Depreciation and amortization | 8,498,000 | 8,440,000 | 8,073,000
Restructuring and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of business |  |  | 0
Acquisition and integration related costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Gain on sale of property |  | 0 |
Interest and financing expenses | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense | 0 | 0 | 0
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 0 | 0 | 0
Windfield tax settlement |  | 0 |
Legal accrual |  |  | 0
Environmental accrual |  |  | 0
Albemarle Foundation contribution |  |  | 0
Indemnification adjustments |  |  | 0
Other | 0 | 0 | 0
Corporate |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 0 | 0 | 159,000
Adjusted EBITDA | (112,915,000) | (136,862,000) | (110,623,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation | (332,914,000) | (349,358,000) | (432,781,000)
Depreciation and amortization | 10,337,000 | 7,865,000 | 6,694,000
Restructuring and other | 19,597,000 | 5,877,000 | 3,838,000
Gain on sale of business |  |  | 0
Acquisition and integration related costs | 17,263,000 | 20,684,000 | 19,377,000
Gain on sale of property |  | 14,411,000 |
Interest and financing expenses | 73,116,000 | 57,695,000 | 52,405,000
Income tax expense | 54,425,000 | 88,161,000 | 144,826,000
Non-operating pension and OPEB items | 40,668,000 | 26,970,000 | 5,285,000
Windfield tax settlement |  | 0 |
Legal accrual |  |  | 27,027,000
Environmental accrual |  |  | 15,597,000
Albemarle Foundation contribution |  |  | 15,000,000
Indemnification adjustments |  |  | 25,240,000
Other | 4,593,000 | 19,655,000 | $ 6,869,000
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Net sales | 0 | 0 |
Net income (loss) attributable to Albemarle Corporation | 20,100,000 | 73,000,000.0 |
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | $ 61,500,000 | 64,800,000 |
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Selling, general and administrative expenses |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  | 64,766,000 |
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Reportable Segments |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  | 64,766,000 |
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Reportable Segments | Lithium |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  | 64,766,000 |
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  | 0 |
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Reportable Segments | Catalysts |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  | 0 |
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | All Other |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  | 0 |
Mineral Resources Limited Wodgina Project | Stamp duty tax | Corporate |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  | $ 0 |

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