Securitization Transactions Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2020	May 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]				$ 1,514,185	$ 2,449,941
Face amount of notes distributed from Risk Retention Vehicle							$ 5,600
Proceeds received from equity investment in risk retention vehicle (liquidation)							$ 5,700
Minimum economic interest required to be retained							5.00%
Fair Value							$ 2,939,311
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]				141,620	$ 71,850
CLO I Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Loss on securitization of financial assets			$ 200
Participation in Multi-Seller Consumer Loan Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans sold		$ 205,100		$ 124,000
Company's share of loans sold		56.30%		51.00%
Co-participants share of loans sold		43.70%		49.00%
Loss on securitization of financial assets				$ (100)
Senior notes issued in securitization transaction		$ 158,400		87,000
Subordinated notes issued in securitization transaction		$ 35,200		$ 18,700
Company's initial percentage ownership of jointly owned entity		56.30%		51.00%
Affiliated co-participants initial percentage ownership of jointly owned entity		43.70%		49.00%
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value					$ 19,100
Company's current percentage ownership of jointly owned entity					56.30%		62.00%
The Company [Member] | CLO I Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Corporate loans transferred into CLO securitization			62,000
Affiliated Entity [Member] | CLO I Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Corporate loans transferred into CLO securitization			$ 141,700
CLOs
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Fair Value							$ 123,893
CLOs | CLO I Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Fair Value							0
CLOs | Distributed from Risk Retention Vehicle [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Fair Value							$ 4,300
Non-QM loan securitization
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Threshold for exercising Optional Redemption					30.00%	30.00%
Percentage used to calculate servicing administrator fee					0.03%	0.03%

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s 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.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 11 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.