Non-controlling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands					12 Months Ended
		Nov. 16, 2021	Nov. 13, 2021	Mar. 02, 2020	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Non-controlling interests	[1]				$ 32,235	$ 36,357
Non-controlling interest of joint venture partner | Non-controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Non-controlling interests					$ 18,700	$ 24,500
Operating Partnership Units [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Operating Partnership Units, converted during period		(1,024)	(1,025)	(129,516)
Operating Partnership | Non-controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Operating Partnership LTIP Units (in units)					675,813	612,538
Operating Partnership Units (in units)					46,360	48,409
Ownership Percentage					1.00%	1.30%
Noncontrolling Interest in Operating Partnerships					$ 13,400	$ 11,700

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s 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.