Securitization Transactions (Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Attributable to Consolidated VIEs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	$ 911,256	$ 754,921
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	1,582,516	1,453,480
Real estate owned	[1],[2]	35,557	23,598
Investment related receivables	[1]	67,338	49,317
Residential mortgage loans
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		1,280,637	1,187,069
Consolidated Entities [Member] | Non-QM loan securitization
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		911,256	754,921
Investment related receivables		23,103	15,544
Consolidated Entities [Member] | Residential mortgage loans | Securitized loans [Member] | Non-QM loan securitization
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		$ 961,332	$ 801,343

[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.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 11 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.