(Schedule of Reverse Repurchase Agreements by Maturity) (Details) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) counterparty	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) counterparty
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements	[1]	$ 1,294,549	$ 2,445,300
Number of Counterparties with Outstanding Reverse Repurchase Agreements | counterparty		25	28
Total secured borrowings		$ 2,200,000	$ 3,200,000
Agency RMBS
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		851,614	1,864,473
Agency RMBS | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		194,313	511,996
Agency RMBS | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		432,451	744,387
Agency RMBS | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		134,800	594,738
Agency RMBS | 91-120 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		1,530	10,270
Agency RMBS | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		23,311	3,082
Agency RMBS | More Than 360 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		65,209	0
Credit
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		442,935	580,827
Credit | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		47,042	16,549
Credit | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		65,812	104,491
Credit | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		127,278	138,837
Credit | 91-120 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		10,626	0
Credit | 121-150 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		2,708	7,460
Credit | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		18,660	31,498
Credit | More Than 360 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		129,106	186,661
Credit | Total Credit Assets
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		$ 41,703	$ 95,331
Minimum
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.27%	0.15%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		1 day	2 days
Maximum
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		7.95%	5.20%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		700 days	882 days
Weighted Average
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		1.47%	2.37%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		110 days	91 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.40%	1.98%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		70 days	48 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.50%	2.08%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		19 days	17 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.35%	1.93%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		45 days	47 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.35%	1.96%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		75 days	76 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 91-120 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		1.52%	2.24%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		92 days	93 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.85%	2.67%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		166 days	171 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | More Than 360 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.36%	0.00%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		340 days	0 days
Weighted Average | Credit
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		3.52%	3.61%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		188 days	229 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		2.33%	3.38%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		11 days	25 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		3.33%	3.14%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		46 days	48 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		3.06%	3.03%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		79 days	73 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 91-120 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		1.75%	0.00%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		91 days	0 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 121-150 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		3.75%	3.89%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		141 days	123 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		3.54%	3.87%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		170 days	173 days
Weighted Average | Credit | More Than 360 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		4.81%	3.80%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		279 days	250 days
Weighted Average | Credit | Total Credit Assets
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		2.98%	4.52%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		700 days	678 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.