Investment in Loans (Schedule of Commercial Mortgage Loans) (Details) (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) loan
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 12,164,019	$ 11,609,077
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(310,544)	(164,198)
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	$ 12,306,636	$ 11,626,008
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		4.78%	4.46%
Weighted Average Yield		5.71%	4.41%
Weighted average life		5 years 5 months 1 day	6 years 8 months 1 day
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 281,531	$ 406,721
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(13,648)	0
Investments, at fair value, Cost		267,883	406,721
Gains		0	1
Losses		(1,288)	(2,398)
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 266,595	404,324
Number of mortgage loans in process of foreclosure		2
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		$ 25,100
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		1,300	2,400
Mortgage Loans In Process Of Foreclosure, Unpaid Principal Balance		25,900
Mortgage Loans In Process Of Foreclosure, Unpaid Principal Balance		25,900
Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		47,700	17,700
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 33,300	$ 17,600
Number of loans | loan		3	2
Commercial mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		11.44%	10.76%
Weighted Average Yield		11.45%	10.66%
Weighted average life		9 months 14 days	11 months 4 days
Non-accrual status [Member] | Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 33,300	$ 17,600

[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.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 14 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.