(Schedule of Reverse Repurchase Agreements by Maturity) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) counterparty	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) counterparty
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)	[1]	$ 2,517,747		$ 2,967,437
Number of Counterparties with Outstanding Reverse Repurchase Agreements | counterparty		25		26
Total secured borrowings		$ 12,900,000		$ 13,100,000
Agency RMBS
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		617,283		1,095,341
Agency RMBS | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		497,820		1,076,710
Agency RMBS | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		1,240		15,786
Agency RMBS | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		116,567		914
Agency RMBS | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		1,656		1,931
Credit
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		1,574,838		1,566,852
Credit | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		26,065		124,617
Credit | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		108,544		136,434
Credit | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		104,095		82,992
Credit | 91-120 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		330,090		290,215
Credit | 121-150 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		23,442		0
Credit | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		6,295		5,980
Credit | 181 to 364 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		938,848		867,983
Credit | Greater than 364 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		37,459		58,631
Reverse mortgage loans
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		98,394		150,228
Reverse mortgage loans | 121-150 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		66,982		0
Reverse mortgage loans | 181 to 364 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		31,412		150,228
U.S. Treasury securities
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		227,232		155,016
U.S. Treasury securities | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements(1)		$ 227,232		$ 155,016
Minimum
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		4.81%		4.81%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		1 day	2 days
Maximum
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		8.85%		8.68%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		422 days	513 days
Weighted Average
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.82%		6.67%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		109 days		126 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		5.47%		5.55%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		23 days		18 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		5.46%		5.55%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		10 days		17 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.08%		5.81%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		39 days		49 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		5.49%		6.16%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		75 days		72 days
Weighted Average | Agency RMBS | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.12%		6.23%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		159 days		159 days
Weighted Average | Credit
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		7.43%		7.44%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		157 days		199 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.80%		6.80%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		11 days		22 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 31-60 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.75%		7.03%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		44 days		41 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 61-90 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.76%		6.85%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		73 days		74 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 91-120 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		7.57%		7.36%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		110 days		116 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 121-150 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		7.00%		0.00%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		134 days		0 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 151 to 180 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		6.74%		6.68%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		159 days		161 days
Weighted Average | Credit | 181 to 364 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		7.52%		7.61%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		189 days		268 days
Weighted Average | Credit | Greater than 364 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		8.58%		8.61%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		422 days		513 days
Weighted Average | Reverse mortgage loans
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		8.70%		7.97%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		148 days		282 days
Weighted Average | Reverse mortgage loans | 121-150 Days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		8.85%		0.00%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		128 days		0 days
Weighted Average | Reverse mortgage loans | 181 to 364 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		8.36%		7.97%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		188 days		282 days
Weighted Average | U.S. Treasury securities
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		5.50%		5.51%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		1 day		2 days
Weighted Average | U.S. Treasury securities | 30 Days or Less
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		5.50%		5.51%
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		1 day		2 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.