Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]	$ 126,783			$ 72,302
Restricted cash	[1]	175			175
Securities, at fair value(1)	[1]	1,451,420			2,449,941
Loans, at fair value	[1]	1,442,612			1,412,426
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	95,803			71,850
Real estate owned	[1]	24,794			30,584
Due from brokers	[1]	63,991			79,829
Investment related receivables	[1]	67,540			123,120
Other assets	[1]	2,850			7,563
Total Assets		3,350,873			4,338,217
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	[1]	1,439,984			2,445,300
Investment related payables	[1]	0			66,133
Other secured borrowings	[1]	142,674			150,334
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	695,516			594,396
Interest payable	[1]	2,074			7,320
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	[1]	11,119			7,753
Total Liabilities		2,478,596			3,469,518
Total Stockholders' Equity		835,130			829,265
Non-controlling interests	[1]	37,147			39,434
Total Equity		872,277	$ 837,679	$ 809,481	868,699	$ 668,967	$ 593,114	$ 592,434	$ 595,170
Total Liabilities and Equity		3,350,873			4,338,217
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		1,152			6,016
Restricted cash		175			175
Securities, at fair value(1)		46,857			47,923
Loans, at fair value		1,423,035			1,393,916
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		6,289			5,641
Real estate owned		24,794			30,584
Investment related receivables		43,542			28,668
Other assets		2,250			6,191
Total Assets		1,548,094			1,519,114
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		260,310			302,791
Investment related payables		0			3,275
Other secured borrowings		142,674			150,334
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		695,516			594,396
Interest payable		402			1,247
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		1,301			2,279
Total Liabilities		1,100,203			1,054,322
Total Stockholders' Equity		422,217			440,394
Non-controlling interests		25,674			24,400
Total Equity		447,891			464,794
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ 1,548,094			$ 1,519,116

[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.