Organization and Investment Objective	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Investment Objective	Organization and Investment Objective Ellington Financial LLC was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on July 9, 2007 and commenced operations on August 17, 2007. Ellington Financial Operating Partnership LLC (the "Operating Partnership"), a 99.4% owned consolidated subsidiary of Ellington Financial LLC, was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on December 14, 2012 and commenced operations on January 1, 2013. All of the Company's operations and business activities are conducted through the Operating Partnership. Ellington Financial LLC, the Operating Partnership, and their consolidated subsidiaries are hereafter collectively referred to as the "Company." All intercompany accounts are eliminated in consolidation. The Company is a specialty finance company that primarily acquires and manages mortgage-related and consumer-related assets, including residential mortgage-backed securities, or "RMBS," residential and commercial mortgage loans, consumer loans and asset-backed securities, or "ABS," backed by consumer loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities, or "CMBS," real property, and mortgage-related derivatives. The Company also invests in corporate debt and equity, including distressed debt, collateralized loan obligations, or "CLOs," non-mortgage-related derivatives, and other financial assets, including private debt and equity investments in mortgage-related entities. Ellington Financial Management LLC ("EFM" or the "Manager") is an SEC-registered investment adviser and a registered commodity pool operator that serves as the Manager to the Company pursuant to the terms of its sixth amended and restated management agreement (the "Management Agreement"). EFM is an affiliate of Ellington Management Group, L.L.C., ("Ellington") an investment management firm that is registered as both an investment adviser and a commodity pool operator. In accordance with the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager implements the investment strategy and manages the business and operations on a day-to-day basis for the Company and performs certain services for the Company, subject to oversight by the Company's Board of Directors ("Board of Directors").

Organization and Investment Objective

Ellington Financial LLC was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on July 9, 2007 and commenced operations on August 17, 2007. Ellington Financial Operating Partnership LLC (the "Operating Partnership"), a 99.4% owned consolidated subsidiary of Ellington Financial LLC, was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on December 14, 2012 and commenced operations on January 1, 2013. All of the Company's operations and business activities are conducted through the Operating Partnership. Ellington Financial LLC, the Operating Partnership, and their consolidated subsidiaries are hereafter collectively referred to as the "Company." All intercompany accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

The Company is a specialty finance company that primarily acquires and manages mortgage-related and consumer-related assets, including residential mortgage-backed securities, or "RMBS," residential and commercial mortgage loans, consumer loans and asset-backed securities, or "ABS," backed by consumer loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities, or "CMBS," real property, and mortgage-related derivatives. The Company also invests in corporate debt and equity, including distressed debt, collateralized loan obligations, or "CLOs," non-mortgage-related derivatives, and other financial assets, including private debt and equity investments in mortgage-related entities.

Ellington Financial Management LLC ("EFM" or the "Manager") is an SEC-registered investment adviser and a registered commodity pool operator that serves as the Manager to the Company pursuant to the terms of its sixth amended and restated management agreement (the "Management Agreement"). EFM is an affiliate of Ellington Management Group, L.L.C., ("Ellington") an investment management firm that is registered as both an investment adviser and a commodity pool operator. In accordance with the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager implements the investment strategy and manages the business and operations on a day-to-day basis for the Company and performs certain services for the Company, subject to oversight by the Company's Board of Directors ("Board of Directors").