Investment in Loans (Schedule of Investments in Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Current Principal/Notional Amount		$ 12,432,144	$ 12,164,019
Fair Value	[1],[2]	12,644,232	12,306,636
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Current Principal/Notional Amount		3,369,139	3,305,757
Fair Value		3,160,176	3,093,912
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Current Principal/Notional Amount		311,578	281,531
Fair Value		294,100	266,595
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Current Principal/Notional Amount		1,500	2,081
Fair Value		1,289	1,759
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Current Principal/Notional Amount		6,965	6,379
Fair Value		6,219	5,819
Reverse mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Current Principal/Notional Amount		8,742,962	8,568,271
Fair Value		9,182,448	$ 8,938,551
Proprietary reverse mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Transfer to held-for-investment from held-for-sale - Loan UPB		$ 210,500

[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.