Related Party Transactions (Promissory Note to Related Party) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022		Dec. 31, 2022
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 11,780,908		$ 11,780,908			$ 11,609,077
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	11,822,695		11,822,695			11,626,008
Base management fee to affiliate (Net of fee rebates)	[3]	4,913	$ 3,990	9,869	$ 8,256
Base management fee, gross		5,000	4,600	10,200	9,500
Management Fee Expense, Rebates		100	$ 600	283	$ 1,261	[3]
Corporate loan [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		6,568		6,568			4,132
Loans, at fair value		6,532		6,532			4,086
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date May 2021
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		2,335		2,335			3,000
Loans, at fair value		$ 2,335		$ 2,335			$ 3,000
Investment Interest Rate		9.00%		9.00%			6.00%
Investment Maturity Date		Dec. 31, 2025		Dec. 31, 2025
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 6,000		$ 6,000
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date March 2022
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		550		550			$ 475
Loans, at fair value		$ 550		$ 550			$ 475
Investment Interest Rate		7.00%		7.00%			7.00%
Investment Maturity Date		Jan. 31, 2025		Jan. 31, 2025
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 750		$ 750
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date November 2022
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance							$ 50
Loans, at fair value							$ 50
Investment Interest Rate							10.00%
Investment Maturity Date		Jan. 31, 2025		Jan. 31, 2025
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 500		$ 500
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date December 2022
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		2,270		2,270			$ 515
Loans, at fair value		$ 2,270		$ 2,270			$ 515
Investment Interest Rate		15.00%		15.00%			15.00%
Investment Maturity Date		Dec. 16, 2024		Dec. 16, 2024
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 3,500		$ 3,500

[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.

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

[3] See Note 15 for further details on management fee rebates.