Investment in Loans (Schedule of Commercial Mortgage Loans) (Details) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) loan
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 12,432,144	$ 12,164,019
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(309,889)	(310,544)
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)	[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
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 311,578	$ 281,531
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(12,304)	(13,648)
Investments, at fair value, Cost		299,274	267,883
Gains		0	0
Losses		(5,174)	(1,288)
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		294,100	266,595
Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		54,500	47,700
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 37,400	$ 33,300
Number of loans | loan		4	3
Commercial mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		11.36%	11.44%
Weighted Average Yield		11.33%	11.45%
Weighted average life		1 year 25 days	9 months 14 days
Non-accrual status [Member] | Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 37,400	$ 33,300

[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.