Investment in Loans (Schedule of Residential Mortgage Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022		Dec. 31, 2021		Oct. 03, 2022
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 11,609,077		$ 2,366,724
Unamortized Premium (Discount)	(164,198)		(143,262)
Fair Value	$ 11,626,008	[1],[2]	$ 2,415,321	[1],[2]	$ 7,698,426
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon	1.58%		3.52%
Weighted Average Yield	4.41%		3.24%
Weighted average life	6 years 8 months 1 day		5 years 11 months 8 days
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 3,404,544		$ 1,969,874
Unamortized Premium (Discount)	44,117		44,039
Amortized Cost	3,448,661		2,013,913
Gains	2,607		15,499
Losses	(335,750)		(13,184)
Fair Value	3,115,518		2,016,228
Residential mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	49,144		33,949
Fair Value	$ 45,110		$ 30,806
Residential mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon	6.41%		5.63%
Weighted Average Yield	5.99%		4.68%
Weighted average life	3 years 7 months 2 days		2 years 18 days
Consolidated securitization trusts [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gains			$ 11,500
Losses	$ 291,700		3,700
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	3,225,997		1,958,807
Unamortized Premium (Discount)	43,806		45,462
Amortized Cost	3,269,803		2,004,269
Gains	2,143		13,792
Losses	(327,316)		(13,173)
Fair Value	$ 2,944,630		$ 2,004,888
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon	6.39%		5.63%
Weighted Average Yield	5.97%		4.67%
Weighted average life	3 years 6 months 25 days		2 years 21 days
Loans held-for-sale | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 178,547		$ 11,067
Unamortized Premium (Discount)	311		(1,423)
Amortized Cost	178,858		9,644
Gains	464		1,707
Losses	(8,434)		(11)
Fair Value	$ 170,888		$ 11,340
Loans held-for-sale | Residential mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon	6.68%		4.58%
Weighted Average Yield	6.44%		5.94%
Weighted average life	3 years 11 months 26 days		29 days
Non-QM loan securitization | Residential mortgage loans | Consolidated Entities [Member] | Securitized loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 1,665,000		$ 1,041,545

[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.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 13 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.