Borrowings (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) counterparty Rate		Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) counterparty Rate
Borrowings [Line Items]
Total secured borrowings		$ 13,100,000		$ 12,200,000
Collateral on repurchase agreements, unsettled sales		$ 346,600		9,200
Repurchase Agreements amount at risk threshold		10.00%
Other secured borrowings(1)	[1]	$ 245,827		276,058
Other secured borrowings, at fair value(1)	[1]	1,424,668		1,539,881
Unsecured borrowings, at fair value		$ 272,765		$ 191,835
Number of Counterparties with Outstanding Reverse Repurchase Agreements | counterparty		26		26
HMBS-related obligations, at fair value		$ 8,423,235		$ 7,787,155
Securities Collateral relating to Reverse Repurchase Agreements		3,700,000		3,200,000
Arlington Asset Investment Corp.
Borrowings [Line Items]
Collateral on repurchase agreements, unsettled sales		341,100
Secured borrowing facility collateralized by ABS backed by consumer loans [Member]
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings(1)		25,800		37,800
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		$ 69,800		$ 70,300
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		9.83%		8.68%
Non-QM loan securitization
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings(1)		$ 1,420,000	[1]	$ 1,540,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		3.03%		3.00%
Warehouse facility A
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings(1)		$ 83,393		$ 59,640
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		$ 99,340		$ 65,652
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate | Rate		8.95%		8.43%
Secured borrowing facility collateralized by HECM tail draws
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings(1)		$ 18,700		$ 22,600
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		$ 29,200		$ 35,100
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		9.00%		8.00%
Secured borrowing facility collateralized by MSRs
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings(1)		$ 26,600		$ 42,800
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		$ 88,400		$ 95,600
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		10.46%		9.37%
GNMA HMBS
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		6.46%		5.23%
HMBS-related obligations, at fair value		$ 8,400,000		$ 7,800,000
MLPS Counterparty
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings(1)		14,700
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		$ 14,900
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		7.59%
Minimum
Borrowings [Line Items]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Maturity		30 days
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		2 days		3 days
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		4.81%		0.63%
Maximum
Borrowings [Line Items]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Maturity		364 days
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		513 days		263 days
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		8.68%		7.97%
Reverse repurchase agreements
Borrowings [Line Items]
Cash collateral posted for securities sold under agreements to repurchase		$ (11,200)		$ 20,300
Securities Collateral relating to Reverse Repurchase Agreements		2,822,912		2,436,472
Securitized residential mortgage loans
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		1,600,000		1,700,000
Corporate equity securities | Mortgage-related Commercial
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value		63,700		68,500
HECM loans | GNMA HMBS
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		8,500,000		$ 7,900,000
5.50% Senior Notes | Unsecured Borrowings
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 86,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.50%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Sep. 01, 2022
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		5.80%
5.875% Senior Notes | Unsecured Borrowings
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 210,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.875%
Redemption percentage		100.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Apr. 01, 2027
6.75% Senior Notes | Unsecured Borrowings
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 34,900
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.75%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Mar. 15, 2025
6.75% Senior Notes | Unsecured Borrowings | Arlington Asset Investment Corp.
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.75%
6.00% Senior Notes | Unsecured Borrowings
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 37,800
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Aug. 01, 2026
6.00% Senior Notes | Unsecured Borrowings | Arlington Asset Investment Corp.
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.00%
Trusted Preferred Debt | Unsecured Borrowings
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 15,000
Trusted Preferred Debt | Unsecured Borrowings | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | October 7, 2033
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 10,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Oct. 07, 2033
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		3.26%
Trusted Preferred Debt | Unsecured Borrowings | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | July 5, 2035
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 5,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Jul. 07, 2035
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.51%

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 12 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.