Investment in Loans Investment in Loans (Schedule of Corporate Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 1,417,054	$ 1,387,733
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	1,453,480	1,412,426
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		5,855	18,415
Loans, at fair value		$ 5,855	$ 18,510
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		3.92%	4.23%
Weighted average life		4 years 5 months 26 days	5 years 10 months 24 days
Weighted Average | Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		20.00%	17.62%
Weighted average life		1 year 9 months	10 months 13 days

[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.