Investment in Loans (Schedule of Commercial Mortgage Loans) (Details) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 2,904,894	$ 2,366,724
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(163,785)	(143,262)
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	$ 2,884,627	$ 2,415,321
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		1.77%	3.52%
Weighted Average Yield		3.45%	3.24%
Weighted average life		6 years 6 months 29 days	5 years 11 months 8 days
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 430,031	$ 326,438
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		0	0
Investments, at fair value, Cost		430,031	326,438
Gains		86	76
Losses		(163)	(317)
Loans, at fair value		429,954	326,197
Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		31,500	15,500
Loans, at fair value		$ 31,500	$ 15,500
Commercial mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		6.70%	7.05%
Weighted Average Yield		6.50%	6.99%
Weighted average life		1 year 4 months 2 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			$ 15,500
Non-accrual status [Member] | Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		$ 31,500

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Condensed 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.