Valuation (Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022		Oct. 03, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			$ 217,053	[1]	$ 20,368	$ 92,661	[1]	$ 111,647	$ 72,302
Restricted cash			4,800			200
Due from brokers			36,761		$ 7,534	93,549
Reverse repurchase agreements			226,444			123,250
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements	[1]		2,609,685			2,469,763
Other secured borrowings	[1]		276,058			96,622
Senior notes, net			0			85,802
Due to brokers			34,507			2,233
Credit Default Swap, Selling Protection [Member]
Liabilities:
Total net up-front payments received		$ 800	800
Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			217,053			92,661
Restricted cash			4,816			175
Due from brokers			36,761			93,549
Reverse repurchase agreements			226,444			123,250
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements			2,609,685			2,469,763
Other secured borrowings			276,058			96,622
Senior notes, net			0			86,249
Due to brokers			34,507			2,233
Carrying Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			217,053			92,661
Restricted cash			4,816			175
Due from brokers			36,761			93,549
Reverse repurchase agreements			226,444			123,250
Liabilities:
Repurchase agreements			2,609,685			2,469,763
Other secured borrowings			276,058			96,622
Senior notes, net			0			85,802
Due to brokers			$ 34,507			$ 2,233

[1] 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.