Securitization Transactions (Schedule of CLO Securitization Transactions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2020
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Fair Value			$ 2,939,311
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	$ 2,449,941		$ 1,514,185
CLO I Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
CLO Pricing Date		2017-05
CLO Closing Date			2017-06
Total Face Amount of Notes Issued			$ 373,550
Face Amount of Notes Initially Purchased			36,606
Aggregate Purchase Price of Notes Initially Purchased			$ 35,926
Reset CLO I Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
CLO Pricing Date		2018-08
CLO Closing Date			2018-08
Total Face Amount of Notes Issued			$ 461,840
Face Amount of Notes Initially Purchased			36,579
Aggregate Purchase Price of Notes Initially Purchased			$ 25,622
CLO II Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
CLO Pricing Date		2017-12
CLO Closing Date			2018-01
Total Face Amount of Notes Issued			$ 452,800
Face Amount of Notes Initially Purchased			18,223
Aggregate Purchase Price of Notes Initially Purchased			$ 16,621
CLO III Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
CLO Pricing Date		2018-06
CLO Closing Date			2018-07
Total Face Amount of Notes Issued			$ 407,100
Face Amount of Notes Initially Purchased			35,480
Aggregate Purchase Price of Notes Initially Purchased			32,394
CLOs
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Fair Value			123,893
CLOs | CLO I Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Fair Value			0
CLOs | Related Party CLO securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Fair Value			50,800
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 39,700		$ 17,300
CLOs | Reset CLO I Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Fair Value			16,973
CLOs | CLO II Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Fair Value			14,721
CLOs | CLO III Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Fair Value			$ 19,071

[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.