Valuation (Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]	$ 136,740	$ 72,302
Due from brokers	[1]	166,516	79,829
Repurchase agreements, at fair value		13,239	73,639
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements	[1]	2,034,225	2,445,300
Other secured borrowings	[1]	177,855	150,334
Senior notes, net		85,363	85,298
Due to brokers		17,138	2,197
Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		136,740	72,302
Restricted cash		175	175
Due from brokers		166,516	79,829
Repurchase agreements, at fair value		13,239	73,639
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements		2,034,225	2,445,300
Other secured borrowings		177,855	150,334
Senior notes, net		77,400	88,365
Due to brokers		17,138	2,197
Carrying Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		136,740	72,302
Restricted cash		175	175
Due from brokers		166,516	79,829
Repurchase agreements, at fair value		13,239	73,639
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements		2,034,225	2,445,300
Other secured borrowings		177,855	150,334
Senior notes, net		85,363	85,298
Due to brokers		$ 17,138	$ 2,197

[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.