Financial Highlights (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Highlights [Abstract]
Market based total return	18.11%	46.99%	(13.04%)

Total return for the period based upon the closing prices as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. Calculation of market based total return assumes the reinvestment of dividends at the closing price as reported by the New York Stock Exchange as of the ex-date.

No definition available.

Name:	efc_MarketBasedTotalReturn
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration