Non-controlling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			9 Months Ended
		Mar. 02, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Non-controlling interests	[1]		$ 31,944		$ 36,357
Non-controlling interest of joint venture partner | Non-controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Non-controlling interests			$ 19,100		$ 24,500
Operating Partnership Units [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Operating Partnership Units, converted during period		(129,516)
Operating Partnership | Non-controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Operating Partnership LTIP Units (in units)			640,323	612,538
Operating Partnership Units (in units)			48,409	48,409
Ownership Percentage			1.20%		1.30%
Noncontrolling Interest in Operating Partnerships			$ 12,700		$ 11,700

[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.