Investment in Loans (Schedule of Residential Mortgage Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 12,432,144		$ 12,164,019
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(309,889)		(310,544)
Fair Value	[1],[2]	$ 12,644,232		$ 12,306,636
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		4.71%		4.78%
Weighted Average Yield		5.72%		5.71%
Weighted average life		5 years 6 months 18 days		5 years 5 months 1 day
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 3,369,139		$ 3,305,757
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		35,796
Amortized Cost		3,404,935
Gains		5,096
Losses		(249,855)
Fair Value		3,160,176		3,093,912
Residential mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		148,886		127,085
Fair Value		$ 138,198		119,524
Residential mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		7.39%
Weighted Average Yield		6.92%
Weighted average life		4 years 5 months 8 days
Consolidated securitization trusts [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Losses		$ 217,600		228,000
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		3,173,699		3,305,757
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		31,720		37,831
Amortized Cost		3,205,419		3,343,588
Gains		3,580		5,554
Losses		(239,502)		(255,230)
Fair Value		$ 2,969,497		$ 3,093,912
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		7.39%		7.17%
Weighted Average Yield		6.93%	6.77%
Weighted average life		4 years 4 months 9 days	4 years 2 months 1 day
Loans held-for-sale | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 195,440
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		4,076
Amortized Cost		199,516
Gains		1,516
Losses		(10,353)
Fair Value		$ 190,679
Loans held-for-sale | Residential mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		7.44%
Weighted Average Yield		6.80%
Weighted average life		5 years 6 months 21 days
Non-QM loan securitization | Residential mortgage loans | Consolidated Entities [Member] | Securitized loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Fair Value		$ 1,533,622		$ 1,555,371

[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.