Securitization Transactions Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	$ 1,328,848		$ 1,518,377
Investments in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	125,366		$ 116,414
Unpaid principal balance of HECM loans pooled into HMBS		$ 274,400	$ 313,400
Number of HMBS pools being serviced		1,008		974
Unpaid principal balance of loans in HMBS - Servicing		$ 8,300,000		$ 8,200,000
Servicing Agreement Asset		300		1,300
HMBS buyouts		147,800	159,300
HMBS buyouts transferred to third party		136,000	$ 157,500
Participation in Multi-Seller Consumer Loan Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		$ 1,800		2,400
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
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Total Face Amount of Certificates Issued		$ 267,255
Non-QM loan securitization, not consolidated
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		7,800		33,000
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]
Investments in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		6,200		$ 8,700
Proprietary Reverse Mortgage Loan Securitization
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Notes Issued by Proprietary Reverse Mortgage Loan Securitization Trust		208,100
Proprietary Reverse Mortgage Loan Securitization | The Company [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Proprietary Reverse Mortgage Loans Transferred into Securitization Trust		$ 171,400

[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.