Investment in Loans (Schedule of Consumer Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 1,441,017	$ 1,387,733
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(174,092)	(150,821)
Loans, at fair value	[1]	$ 1,443,589	$ 1,412,426
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted average life		4 years 5 months 12 days	5 years 10 months 24 days
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 190,705	$ 179,743
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		7,684	5,027
Amortized Cost		198,389	184,770
Gains		937	2,561
Losses		(4,523)	(377)
Loans, at fair value		$ 194,803	$ 186,954
Consumer loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted average life		10 months 17 days	9 months 25 days
Delinquency (Days)		4 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.