Investment in Loans (Schedule of Consumer Mortgage Loans) (Details) (Details) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 1,100,062
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(127,647)
Amortized Cost			$ 2,970,306
Loans, at fair value	[1]	$ 1,091,523
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted average life		6 years 18 days
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 157,774
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		2,947
Amortized Cost		160,721
Gains		2,520
Losses		(632)
Loans, at fair value		$ 162,609
Consumer loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted average life		277 days
Delinquency (Days)		4 days

[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.