Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	$ 1,453,480	$ 1,412,426
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount				$ 9,100
Unpaid Principal Balance		1,417,054	1,387,733
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		1,187,069	932,203
Impairment Losses, Recognized in Earnings			900
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		14,900	10,900
Unpaid Principal Balance		1,150,303	911,705
Residential mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		58,169	15,580
Unpaid Principal Balance		62,009	17,757
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		213,031	274,759
Losses		(454)	(62)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		400
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		10,500	16,000
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 212,716	$ 277,870
Number of mortgage loans in process of foreclosure		1	2
Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		$ 31,500	$ 26,500
Number of loans | loan		3	3
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 31,800	$ 28,900
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		47,525	186,954
Losses		(1,887)	(377)
Impairment Losses, Recognized in Earnings			6,300
Unpaid Principal Balance		48,180	179,743
Delinquent loans, charged off		20,900	19,000
Fair value of charged-off loans		600	600
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		2,900
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		5,855	18,510
Unpaid Principal Balance		5,855	18,415
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		1,187,069	932,203
Losses		(5,389)	(1,938)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		2,200
Financing Receivable, Purchased with Credit Deterioration, Allowance for Credit Loss at Acquisition Date		200
Unpaid Principal Balance		1,150,303	$ 911,705
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans		(800)
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans		$ 3,200

[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.