Valuation (Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]		$ 92,661	$ 111,647
Due from brokers			93,549	63,147
Reverse repurchase agreements			123,250	38,640
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements	[1]		2,469,763	1,496,931
Other secured borrowings	[1]		96,622	51,062
Senior notes, net			85,802	85,561
Due to brokers			2,233	5,059
Credit Default Swap, Selling Protection [Member]
Liabilities:
Total net up-front payments received		$ (2,000)	800
Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			92,661	111,647
Restricted cash			175	175
Due from brokers			93,549	63,147
Reverse repurchase agreements			123,250	38,640
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements			2,469,763	1,496,931
Other secured borrowings			96,622	51,062
Senior notes, net			86,249	86,000
Due to brokers			2,233	5,059
Carrying Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			92,661	111,647
Restricted cash			175	175
Due from brokers			93,549	63,147
Reverse repurchase agreements			123,250	38,640
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements			2,469,763	1,496,931
Other secured borrowings			96,622	51,062
Senior notes, net			85,802	85,561
Due to brokers			$ 2,233	$ 5,059

[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.