Valuation (Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]	$ 149,350	$ 111,647
Due from brokers	[1]	91,814	63,147
Reverse repurchase agreements		96,783	38,640
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements	[1]	1,909,511	1,496,931
Other secured borrowings	[1]	64,506	51,062
Senior notes, net		85,627	85,561
Due to brokers		5,337	5,059
Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		149,350	111,647
Restricted cash		175	175
Due from brokers		91,814	63,147
Reverse repurchase agreements		96,783	38,640
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements		1,909,511	1,496,931
Other secured borrowings		64,506	51,062
Senior notes, net		86,344	86,000
Due to brokers		5,337	5,059
Carrying Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		149,350	111,647
Restricted cash		175	175
Due from brokers		91,814	63,147
Reverse repurchase agreements		96,783	38,640
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements		1,909,511	1,496,931
Other secured borrowings		64,506	51,062
Senior notes, net		85,627	85,561
Due to brokers		$ 5,337	$ 5,059

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Condensed 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.