Non-controlling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				12 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2020	Dec. 12, 2018	Jan. 02, 2013	Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Non-controlling interests				$ 36,357	[1]	$ 39,434	[1]	$ 31,337
Non-controlling interest in Operating Partnership [Member] | Non-controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Operating Partnership LTIP Units Redeemed (in units)								503,988
Non-controlling interest of joint venture partner | Non-controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Non-controlling interests				$ 24,500		$ 25,900		$ 17,300
Operating Partnership Units [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Operating Partnership Units, converted during period	(129,516)
Operating Partnership | Non-controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Operating Partnership LTIP Units (in units)				612,538		545,716
Operating Partnership Units (in units)				48,409		177,925
Ownership Percentage				1.30%		1.60%
Noncontrolling Interest in Operating Partnerships				$ 11,700		$ 13,400
Operating Partnership | Non-controlling interest in Operating Partnership [Member] | Non-controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Operating Partnership Units Issued			212,000
Operating Partnership LTIP Units Issued (in units)		17,383
Operating Partnership LTIP Units Redeemed (in units)								503,988
Operating Partnership LTIP Units Distributed (in units)								503,988
Operating Partnership LTIP Units (in units)								521,371
Operating Partnership Units (in units)								212,000
Ownership Percentage								2.40%
Noncontrolling Interest in Operating Partnerships								$ 13,900

[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.