Business Combination (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
		Oct. 03, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020	[1]	Sep. 30, 2022
Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition			Oct. 03, 2022
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired		49.60%
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Other		$ 77,772
Business Combination, Bargain Purchase, Gain Recognized, Amount		$ 7,932	$ 7,932	$ 0	[1]	$ 0
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[2]		$ 127,046	$ 195,643
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Percentage								49.60%

[1] Conformed to current period presentation.

[2] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 11 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.