Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Summarized Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended							9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021		Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021		Dec. 31, 2021
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		$ (33,290,000)			$ 20,564,000				$ (108,073,000)	$ 91,075,000
Other assets	[1]	5,215,000							5,215,000			$ 3,710,000
Liabilities		5,162,080,000							5,162,080,000			3,853,863,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent		1,155,306,000							1,155,306,000			1,291,321,000
Total Liabilities and Equity		6,342,709,000							6,342,709,000			5,177,419,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Total Assets		6,342,709,000							6,342,709,000			5,177,419,000
Interest income		78,592,000			40,146,000				192,388,000	126,115,000
Interest expense		(42,080,000)			(10,604,000)				(82,121,000)	(33,111,000)
Interest Income (Expense), Net		36,512,000			29,542,000				110,267,000	93,004,000
Noninterest Income		(26,348,000)			6,128,000	[2]			(121,398,000)	32,066,000	[2]
Operating Expenses		14,463,000			16,247,000				47,132,000	48,001,000
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(29,731,000)	$ (61,451,000)	$ (6,498,000)	23,981,000		$ 36,469,000	$ 41,256,000	(97,680,000)	101,706,000
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		(81,000)			(2,009,000)				(14,867,000)	3,149,000
Other, net		(31,000)			1,418,000	[2]			1,022,000	4,365,000	[2]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest		(4,299,000)			19,423,000				(58,263,000)	77,069,000
Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities		(25,513,000)			2,549,000				(54,284,000)	27,786,000
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	171,379,000							171,379,000			195,643,000
Investment in Loan Originator
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		83,200,000							83,200,000			137,800,000
LendSure Mortgage Corp [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities		(6,900,000)			6,000,000				(18,900,000)	11,600,000
LendSure Mortgage Corp [Member] | Investment in Loan Originator
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		26,600,000							26,600,000			45,500,000
LendSure Mortgage Corp [Member] | Significant non-consolidated entity
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues		15,715,000			24,850,000				45,734,000	56,262,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		1,299,000			8,598,000				2,453,000	18,976,000
Longbridge Financial LLC [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities		(20,200,000)			(6,200,000)				(37,100,000)	5,100,000
Longbridge Financial LLC [Member] | Investment in Loan Originator
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		38,900,000							38,900,000			$ 74,500,000
Longbridge Financial LLC [Member] | Significant non-consolidated entity
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenues		52,884,000			(67,699,000)				(78,468,000)	30,861,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		$ 4,436,000			$ (8,246,000)				$ (30,262,000)	$ 23,491,000

[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] Conformed to current period presentation.