Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) loan	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) loan	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) loan
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 1,402,045		$ 1,402,045		$ 1,387,733
Loans, at fair value	[1]	1,416,851		1,416,851		1,412,426
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Impairment Losses, Recognized in Earnings			$ 300		$ 400
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		12,200		12,200		10,900
Unpaid Principal Balance		937,154		937,154		911,705
Loans, at fair value		948,447		948,447		932,203
Residential mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		66,170		66,170		17,757
Loans, at fair value		62,957		62,957		15,580
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Losses		(751)		(751)		(62)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		200		200
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		$ 10,700		$ 10,700		$ 16,000
Number of mortgage loans in process of foreclosure		1		1		2
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 295,621		$ 295,621		$ 277,870
Loans, at fair value		$ 295,496		$ 295,496		$ 274,759
Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Number of loans | loan		3		3		3
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 24,100		$ 24,100		$ 28,900
Loans, at fair value		23,900		23,900		26,500
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Losses		(5,085)		(5,085)		(377)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss				3,500
Delinquent loans, charged off		5,100	4,600	10,000	9,000
Fair value of charged-off loans		600		600		600
Impairment Losses, Recognized in Earnings			$ 1,400		$ 3,500
Unpaid Principal Balance		163,043		163,043		179,743
Loans, at fair value		166,681		166,681		186,954
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		6,687		6,687		18,415
Loans, at fair value		6,227		6,227		18,510
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Losses		(8,367)		(8,367)		(1,938)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		3,200		3,200
Financing Receivable, Purchased with Credit Deterioration, Allowance for Credit Loss at Acquisition Date				300
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans				(500)
Unpaid Principal Balance		937,154		937,154		911,705
Loans, at fair value		$ 948,447		$ 948,447		$ 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.