Securitization Transactions (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Attributable to Consolidated VIEs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 42,671	[1]	$ 44,656
Loans, at fair value	[1]	1,091,523
Fair Value				2,939,311
Investment related receivables	[1]	77,882
Interest payable	[1]	6,741
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		475,816	[1]	297,948
Interest and Dividends Payable				7,159
Consolidated Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents				0
Fair Value				314,202
Other secured borrowings, at fair value				297,948
Interest and Dividends Receivable				3,527
Interest and Dividends Payable				$ 103
Non-QM loan securitization | Consolidated Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Investment related receivables		6,026
Interest payable		91
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		475,816
Residential mortgage loans
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		663,880
Securitized loans [Member] | Residential mortgage loans | Non-QM loan securitization | Consolidated Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		$ 503,090

[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.