Securitization Transactions Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	$ 1,502,049	$ 1,502,049	$ 1,459,465
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	$ 113,474	$ 113,474	$ 127,046
Number of HMBS pools being serviced		938	938	832
Unpaid principal balance of HECM loans pooled into HMBS		$ 352,100	$ 1,000,000
Unpaid principal balance of loans in HMBS - Servicing		8,000,000	8,000,000	$ 7,600,000
Servicing Agreement Asset		2,300	2,300	1,000
HMBS buyouts		217,400	583,500
HMBS buyouts transferred to third party		211,200	571,400
Participation in Multi-Seller Consumer Loan Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		2,700	$ 2,700	9,700
Non-QM loan securitization
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Threshold for exercising Optional Redemption			30.00%
Percentage used to calculate servicing administrator fee			0.03%
Non-QM loan securitization | November 2019 [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Total Face Amount of Certificates Issued			$ 267,255
Non-QM loan securitization | The Company [Member] | November 2019 [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Principal Balance of Loans Transferred to the Depositor			267,255
Non-QM loan securitization, not consolidated
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		31,200	31,200	37,600
Non-QM loan securitization, not consolidated | December 2022
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Total Face Amount of Certificates Issued			365,262
Non-QM loan securitization, not consolidated | December 2022 | Participated Risk Retention Vehicle
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		$ 7,000	7,000	$ 2,600
Non-QM loan securitization, not consolidated | The Company [Member] | December 2022
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Principal Balance of Loans Transferred to the Depositor			309,998
Non-QM loan securitization, not consolidated | non-QM co-participant | December 2022
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Principal Balance of Loans Transferred to the Depositor			$ 55,264

[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.