Securitization Transactions (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Attributable to Consolidated VIEs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]	$ 136,740	$ 72,302
Loans, at fair value	[1]	1,443,589	1,412,426
Real estate owned	[1]	25,054	30,584
Investment related receivables	[1]	408,332	123,120
Interest payable	[1]	5,283	7,320
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	549,668	594,396
Non-QM loan securitization | Consolidated Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Investment related receivables		9,819	10,409
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		549,668	594,396
Residential mortgage loans
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		939,372	932,203
Securitized loans [Member] | Residential mortgage loans | Non-QM loan securitization | Consolidated Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		581,181	628,415
Real estate owned		$ 658	$ 658

[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.