Investment in Loans (Schedule of Consumer Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2024	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)
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 life		5 years 6 months 18 days	5 years 5 months 1 day
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 1,500	$ 2,081
Unamortized Premium (Discount)		(31)	(120)
Investments, at fair value, Cost		1,469	1,961
Gains		134	127
Losses		(314)	(329)
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		1,289	1,759
Fair value of charged-off loans		$ 38	$ 35
Consumer loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted average life		9 months 3 days	9 months
Delinquency (Days)		16 days	18 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.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 14 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.