Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Summarized Financial Information Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		$ 34,271	$ 20,564	$ 32,655	$ 37,856	$ 63,162	$ 46,203	$ 37,278	$ (129,398)	$ 125,346	$ 17,245	$ 56,467
Other assets	[1]	3,710				2,575				3,710	2,575
Liabilities		3,853,863				2,492,291				3,853,863	2,492,291
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent		1,291,321				885,215				1,291,321	885,215
Total Liabilities and Equity		5,177,419				3,413,863				5,177,419	3,413,863
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Total Assets		5,177,419				3,413,863				5,177,419	3,413,863
Interest income		49,390	40,146	45,890	40,079	39,067	43,075	39,281	52,108	175,505	173,531	159,901
Interest expense		(10,918)	(10,604)	(11,166)	(11,342)	(11,952)	(12,937)	(14,686)	(22,090)	(44,030)	(61,665)	(78,479)
Interest Income (Expense), Net		38,472	29,542	34,724	28,737	27,115	30,138	24,595	30,018	131,475	111,866	81,422
Noninterest Income		(12,504)	6,128	5,708	20,230	32,201	21,093	23,695	(142,196)	19,562	(65,207)	11,841
Operating Expenses		17,440	16,247	19,425	12,329	12,194	10,478	11,952	10,214	65,441	44,838	38,737
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		38,850	23,981	36,469	41,256	66,578	49,702	40,439	(128,342)	140,556	28,377	63,177
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		(4)	(2,009)	3,140	2,017	7,888	2,494	1,542	(547)	3,144	11,377	1,558
Other, net		13,729	2,986	4,363	1,960	(795)	(2,747)	(435)	1,679	23,038	(2,298)	5,350
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		8,528	$ 19,423	$ 21,007	$ 36,638	47,122	$ 40,753	$ 36,338	$ (122,392)	85,596	1,821	54,526
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments, summarized financial information, Investments		424,203				225,212				424,203	225,212
Other assets		40,554				39,873				40,554	39,873
Total		307,725				63,625				307,725	63,625
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Other liabilities		4,935				11,227				4,935	11,227
Liabilities		312,660				74,852				312,660	74,852
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent		152,097				190,233				152,097	190,233
Total Liabilities and Equity		464,757				265,085				464,757	265,085
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Total Assets		$ 464,757				$ 265,085				464,757	265,085
Interest income										53,400	6,657	20,876
Interest expense										(5,078)	(1,967)	(7,625)
Interest Income (Expense), Net										48,322	4,690	13,251
Gain (Loss) on Investments										(35,814)	(16,020)	13,108
Noninterest Income										(23,510)	(10,641)	19,676
Operating Expenses										16,330	8,111	10,343
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										8,482	(14,062)	22,584
Other, net										$ 12,304	$ 5,379	$ 6,568

[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.