Investment in Loans (Schedule of Commercial Mortgage Loans) (Details) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance			$ 2,366,724	$ 1,417,054
Unamortized Premium (Discount)			(143,262)	(196,118)
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]		$ 2,415,321	$ 1,453,480
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon			3.52%	3.92%
Weighted Average Yield		4.77%	3.24%
Weighted average life		4 years 5 months 26 days	5 years 11 months 8 days
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance			$ 326,438	$ 212,716
Unamortized Premium (Discount)			0	290
Investments, at fair value, Cost			326,438	213,006
Gains			76	479
Losses			(317)	(454)
Loans, at fair value			326,197	$ 213,031
Number of mortgage loans in process of foreclosure				1
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount				$ 10,500
Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance			15,500	31,800
Loans, at fair value			$ 15,500	$ 31,500
Commercial mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon			7.05%	8.38%
Weighted Average Yield		8.28%	6.99%
Weighted average life		7 months 13 days	1 year 3 months 29 days
Non-accrual status [Member] | Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value				$ 31,500
Non-accrual status [Member] | Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value			$ 15,500

[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.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 11 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.