Investment in Loans Investment in Loans (Schedule of Corporate Loans) (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
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]		2,415,321	1,453,480
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance			10,531	5,855
Loans, at fair value			$ 10,531	$ 5,855
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon			3.52%	3.92%
Weighted average life		4 years 5 months 26 days	5 years 11 months 8 days
Weighted Average | Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon			16.14%	20.00%
Weighted average life		1 year 9 months	4 years 3 days

[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.