Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	$ 3,822,895			$ 3,822,895		$ 2,415,321
Unpaid Principal Balance		4,073,065			4,073,065		2,366,724
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		3,348,810			3,348,810		2,016,228
Losses		(297,767)			(297,767)		(13,184)
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		22,100			22,100		8,100
Unpaid Principal Balance		3,597,404			3,597,404		1,969,874
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		6,038			6,038		62,365
Losses		(556)			(556)		(1,537)
Unpaid Principal Balance		6,203			6,203		59,881
Delinquent loans, charged off		300	$ 500		2,900	$ 2,900
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss				$ 1,300	500
Fair value of charged-off loans		200			200		300
Non-performing | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		33,969			33,969		30,806
Unpaid Principal Balance		36,738			36,738		33,949
Performing Financial Instruments [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		8,597			8,597		20,611
Unpaid Principal Balance		9,751			9,751		20,712
Performing Financial Instruments [Member] | Participation in Multi-Seller Consumer Loan Securitization [Member] | Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans sold					47,700
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		3,052,188			3,052,188		2,004,888
Losses		(274,648)			(274,648)		(13,173)
Unpaid Principal Balance		3,281,521			3,281,521		1,958,807
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans						(33)
Financing Receivable, Purchased with Credit Deterioration, Allowance for Credit Loss at Acquisition Date					36	100
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		24,200			24,200		$ 3,000
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans		$ (1,300)	$ (100)		$ (1,800)	$ (1,400)

[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.