Investment in Loans (Schedule of Consumer Loans) (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 life		6 years 6 months 29 days	5 years 11 months 8 days
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Fair value of charged-off loans		$ 300	$ 300
Unpaid Principal Balance		10,865	59,881
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		208	3,212
Investments, at fair value, Cost		11,073	63,093
Gains		513	809
Losses		(1,708)	(1,537)
Loans, at fair value		$ 9,878	$ 62,365
Consumer loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted average life		11 months 8 days	11 months 8 days
Delinquency (Days)		16 days	4 days

[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.