Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands					3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
		Nov. 07, 2022	Oct. 06, 2022	Oct. 03, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	[2]	Mar. 31, 2022		Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share					$ 0.001						$ 0.001		$ 0.001
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues					516,942					7,852,900	3,085,642	7,852,900
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]				$ 171,379						$ 171,379		$ 195,643
Investment in Loan Originator
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value					83,200						83,200		137,800
Longbridge Financial LLC [Member] | Investment in Loan Originator
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value					$ 38,900						$ 38,900		$ 74,500
Longbridge Financial LLC [Member] | Voting ownership
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage					49.60%						49.60%		49.60%
Common ATM Program
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues					516,942					1,549,900	3,085,642	1,549,900
Maximum shares available to be issued under at the market program											10,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of shares, net					$ 8,000					$ 28,200	$ 53,200	$ 28,200
Commissions and offering costs					$ 100					$ 400	$ 800	$ 400
Preferred ATM Program
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues											20,421
Maximum shares available to be issued under at the market program											100,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of shares, net											$ 500
Commissions and offering costs											$ 23
Common Stock
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues					516,942	383,700		2,185,000	[2]	7,852,900
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues					$ 8,026	$ 6,767		$ 38,454	[2]	$ 141,303
Preferred Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	[2]							$ 493
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividend Per Share (USD per share)		$ 0.15
Declared date		Nov. 07, 2022	Oct. 06, 2022
Payment Date		Dec. 27, 2022
Record Date		Nov. 30, 2022
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired				49.60%
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross				$ 38,900
Subsequent Event [Member] | Common Stock
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividend Per Share (USD per share)			$ 0.15
Payment Date			Nov. 25, 2022
Record Date			Oct. 31, 2022

[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] Net of discounts and commissions and offering costs.