Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) loan	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount				$ 9,100
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 1,100,062	$ 1,100,062
Loans, at fair value	[1]	1,091,523	1,091,523
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Impairment Losses, Recognized in Earnings		300	400
Unpaid Principal Balance, Impaired Loans		5,400	5,400
Fair Value, Impaired Loans		4,600	4,600
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		8,400	8,400
Unpaid Principal Balance		652,119	652,119
Loans, at fair value		663,880	663,880
Residential mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		18,641	18,641
Loans, at fair value		16,996	16,996
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		285,169	285,169
Loans, at fair value		$ 260,034	$ 260,034
Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Number of loans | loan		7	7
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 77,300	$ 77,300
Loans, at fair value		53,300	53,300
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Impairment Losses, Recognized in Earnings		1,400	3,500
Unpaid Principal Balance, Impaired Loans		62,800	62,800
Fair Value, Impaired Loans		64,700	64,700
Unpaid Principal Balance		157,774	157,774
Loans, at fair value		162,609	162,609
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		5,000	5,000
Loans, at fair value		$ 5,000	$ 5,000

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet includes assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 9 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.