Financial Highlights (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Financial Highlights [Abstract]
Market based total return	0.15%efc_MarketBasedTotalReturn	18.11%efc_MarketBasedTotalReturn	46.99%efc_MarketBasedTotalReturn

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