Related Party Transactions (Promissory Note to Related Party Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 2,904,894	$ 2,366,724
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	2,884,627	2,415,321
Corporate loan [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		11,788	10,531
Loans, at fair value		11,788	10,531
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date May 2021
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		3,000	3,000
Loans, at fair value		$ 3,000	$ 3,000
Investment Interest Rate		3.00%	3.00%
Investment Maturity Date		Dec. 31, 2025
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 6,000
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date November 2021
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		1,500	$ 0
Loans, at fair value		$ 1,500	$ 0
Investment Interest Rate		9.00%	9.00%
Investment Maturity Date		Nov. 19, 2024
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 3,000
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date March 2022
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		150	$ 0
Loans, at fair value		$ 150	$ 0
Investment Interest Rate		7.00%	0.00%
Investment Maturity Date		Jan. 31, 2025
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 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.