(Schedule of Reverse Repurchase Agreements by Maturity) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($) counterparty	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) counterparty
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements	[1]	$ 2,285,898	$ 2,609,685
Number of Counterparties with Outstanding Reverse Repurchase Agreements | counterparty		27	26
Total secured borrowings		$ 12,200,000	$ 12,200,000
Agency RMBS
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		664,279	939,653
Agency RMBS | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		342,461	668,924
Agency RMBS | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		264,755	91,048
Agency RMBS | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		51,580	158,782
Agency RMBS | 91-120 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		0	4,751
Agency RMBS | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		1,320	0
Agency RMBS | 121-150 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		0	16,148
Agency RMBS | More Than 360 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		4,163	0
U.S. Treasury securities
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		132,043	69,347
U.S. Treasury securities | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		132,043	69,347
Credit
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		1,489,576	1,600,685
Credit | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		53,953	462,284
Credit | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		138,502	119,619
Credit | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		62,156	119,471
Credit | 91-120 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		412,056	358,010
Credit | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		231,703	6,981
Credit | Total Credit Assets
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		103,420	0
Credit | 121-150 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		0	142,939
Credit | More Than 360 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements		$ 487,786	$ 391,381
Minimum
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		3.49%	0.63%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		3 days	3 days
Maximum
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		8.79%	7.97%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		788 days	263 days
Weighted Average
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.18%	5.50%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		148 days	78 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		4.94%	3.91%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		30 days	29 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		4.89%	4.09%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		12 days	14 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		4.95%	2.32%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		42 days	45 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		5.15%	3.96%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		76 days	73 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 91-120 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.00%	5.20%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		0 days	118 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		5.79%	0.00%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		160 days	0 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 121-150 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.00%	4.76%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		0 days	131 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | More Than 360 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		5.62%	0.00%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		181 days	0 days
Weighted Average | U.S. Treasury securities
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		4.99%	4.31%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		3 days	3 days
Weighted Average | U.S. Treasury securities | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		4.99%	4.31%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		3 days	3 days
Weighted Average | Non-Agency RMBS | Total Credit Assets
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		788 days	0 days
Weighted Average | Credit
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.84%	6.48%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		214 days	110 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.06%	6.40%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		20 days	7 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.21%	6.00%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		44 days	48 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.44%	6.13%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		79 days	77 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 91-120 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.98%	6.30%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		110 days	116 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.82%	6.72%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		173 days	156 days
Weighted Average | Credit | Total Credit Assets
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		8.08%	0.00%
Weighted Average | Credit | 121-150 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		0.00%	7.12%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		0 days	144 days
Weighted Average | Credit | More Than 360 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.79%	6.74%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		286 days	240 days

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Condensed 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.