Investment in Loans Investment in Loans (Schedule of Corporate 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
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	12,644,232	12,306,636
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		6,965	6,379
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		6,219	5,819
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		$ 700	$ 600
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		4.71%	4.78%
Weighted average life		5 years 6 months 18 days	5 years 5 months 1 day
Weighted Average | Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		9.88%	10.13%
Weighted average life		1 year 3 months 7 days	1 year 6 months 7 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.