Borrowings (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($) counterparty	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Borrowings [Line Items]
Total secured borrowings		$ 4,000,000	$ 3,600,000
Financial Instruments transferred as collateral for repurchase agreements		3,100,000	2,800,000
Collateral on repurchase agreements, unsettled sales		$ 28,000	4,100
Repurchase Agreements amount at risk threshold		10.00%
Other secured borrowings	[1]	$ 47,941	96,622
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	1,216,542	984,168
Senior notes, at fair value		$ 210,000	0
Number of Counterparties with Outstanding Reverse Repurchase Agreements | counterparty		23
Secured borrowing facility collateralized by ABS backed by consumer loans [Member]
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings		$ 47,900	46,900
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		$ 72,100	$ 67,500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		4.70%	4.70%
Secured borrowing facility collateralized by unsecured loan portfolio
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings			$ 38,500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate			2.25%
Secured borrowing recourse facility collateralized by unsecured loan portfolio
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings			$ 2,700
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate			2.10%
Non-QM loan securitization
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings			$ 984,200
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		1.93%	1.68%
Commercial mortgage loans
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings			$ 7,500
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings			18,000
Loan Participations and Assignments
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings			1,000
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings			$ 1,100
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate			3.17%
Minimum
Borrowings [Line Items]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Maturity		30 days
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		1 day	3 days
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.14%	0.10%
Maximum
Borrowings [Line Items]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Maturity		364 days
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		548 days	638 days
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		4.22%	3.75%
Reverse repurchase agreements
Borrowings [Line Items]
Cash collateral posted for securities sold under agreements to repurchase		$ 100,800	$ 70,300
Unsecured loans | Secured borrowing facility collateralized by unsecured loan portfolio
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings			57,100
Unsecured loans | Secured borrowing recourse facility collateralized by unsecured loan portfolio
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings			4,300
Securitized residential mortgage loans
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		1,300,000	1,000,000
Corporate equity securities | Mortgage-related Commercial
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value		63,700	$ 36,900
5.50% Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 86,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.50%
Redemption percentage		100.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Sep. 01, 2022
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		5.80%
5.875% Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 210,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.875%
Redemption percentage		100.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Apr. 01, 2027

[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.