Investment in Loans (Schedule of Consumer Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
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 life		5 years 5 months 1 day	6 years 8 months 1 day
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Fair value of charged-off loans		$ 35	$ 200
Unpaid Principal Balance		2,081	5,190
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(120)	(43)
Investments, at fair value, Cost		1,961	5,147
Gains		127	341
Losses		(329)	(645)
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		1,759	4,843
Delinquent loans, charged off		500	3,000	$ 3,600
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		300	500
Consumer loans | Loans held-for-investment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans		$ (800)	$ (2,100)	$ (1,400)
Consumer loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted average life		9 months	9 months 21 days
Delinquency (Days)		18 days	10 days

[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.