Investment in Loans (Schedule of Consumer Mortgage Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 1,387,733
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(150,821)
Amortized Cost			$ 2,970,306
Loans, at fair value	[1]	$ 1,412,426
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted average life		5 years 10 months 24 days
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 179,743
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		5,027
Amortized Cost		184,770
Gains		2,561
Losses		(377)
Loans, at fair value		$ 186,954
Consumer loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted average life		9 months 25 days
Delinquency (Days)		4 days

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s 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.