Investment in Loans (Schedule of Commercial Mortgage Loans) (Details) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 3,627,673	$ 2,366,724
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(170,979)	(143,262)
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	$ 3,490,820	$ 2,415,321
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		1.65%	3.52%
Weighted Average Yield		3.78%	3.24%
Weighted average life		7 years 7 days	5 years 11 months 8 days
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 478,842	$ 326,438
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		0	0
Investments, at fair value, Cost		478,842	326,438
Gains		74	76
Losses		(1,538)	(317)
Loans, at fair value		477,378	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		7.52%	7.05%
Weighted Average Yield		7.32%	6.99%
Weighted average life		1 year 3 months 3 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.