Securitization Transactions Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]		$ 1,860,990	$ 1,514,185
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]		178,979	141,620
Participation in Multi-Seller Consumer Loan Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans sold		$ 205,100
Company's share of loans sold		56.30%
Co-participants share of loans sold		43.70%
Senior notes issued in securitization transaction		$ 158,400
Subordinated notes issued in securitization transaction		$ 35,200
Company's initial percentage ownership of jointly owned entity		56.30%
Affiliated co-participants initial percentage ownership of jointly owned entity		43.70%
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value			$ 16,500	$ 19,100
Company's current percentage ownership of jointly owned entity			56.30%	56.30%
Non-QM loan securitization
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Threshold for exercising Optional Redemption			30.00%
Percentage used to calculate servicing administrator fee			0.03%

[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.