Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) loan	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) loan
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 1,441,017		$ 1,387,733
Loans, at fair value	[1]	1,443,589		1,412,426
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Impairment Losses, Recognized in Earnings			$ 100
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		10,100		10,900
Unpaid Principal Balance		940,480		911,705
Loans, at fair value		939,372		932,203
Residential mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		17,052		17,757
Loans, at fair value		14,839		15,580
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Losses		(582)		(62)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		500
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		$ 10,700		$ 16,000
Number of mortgage loans in process of foreclosure		1		2
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 303,718		$ 277,870
Loans, at fair value		$ 303,300		$ 274,759
Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Number of loans | loan		1		3
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 10,700		$ 28,900
Loans, at fair value		10,700		26,500
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Losses		(4,523)		(377)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		4,700
Delinquent loans, charged off		4,900	4,400
Fair value of charged-off loans		600		600
Impairment Losses, Recognized in Earnings			$ 2,100
Unpaid Principal Balance		190,705		179,743
Loans, at fair value		194,803		186,954
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		6,114		18,415
Loans, at fair value		6,114		18,510
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Losses		(23,391)		(1,938)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		5,500
Unpaid Principal Balance		940,480		911,705
Loans, at fair value		$ 939,372		$ 932,203

[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.