Cover - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 05, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Public Float			$ 478,888,017
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		43,781,684
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0001411342
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Amendment Flag	false
Document Type	10-K/A
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Entity File Number	001-34569
Entity Registrant Name	Ellington Financial Inc.
Entity Address, Address Line One	53 Forest Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Old Greenwich
Entity Address, State or Province	CT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	06870
City Area Code	203
Local Phone Number	698-1200
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	26-0489289
Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Trading Symbol	EFC
Cumulative Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.750% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Trading Symbol	EFC PR A