Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) loan	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) loan
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
Loans purchased in private transaction		80,100
Loans purchased in private transaction - held		7,100		8,900
Unpaid principal balance on unactive loans		272,800		290,400
Accrued expenses and other liabilities(1)	[1]	74,638		90,341
Government Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid principal balance on unactive loans		286,000		280,600
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		84,600		85,600
Unpaid Principal Balance		3,369,139		3,305,757
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		3,160,176		3,093,912
Losses		(249,855)
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		1,500		2,081
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		1,289		1,759
Delinquent loans, charged off		100	$ 200
Fair value of charged-off loans		38		35
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		300		300
Losses		(314)		(329)
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		5,200		1,300
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		25,100
Unpaid Principal Balance		311,578		281,531
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 294,100		266,595
Number of mortgage loans in process of foreclosure		2
Mortgage Loans In Process Of Foreclosure, Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 25,900
Losses		(5,174)		(1,288)
Non-performing | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		148,886		127,085
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 138,198		$ 119,524
Non-performing | Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Number of loans | loan		4		3
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 54,500		$ 47,700
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		37,400		33,300
Performing Financial Instruments [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		4,134		4,252
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		3,621		3,761
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		15,000		17,200
Unpaid Principal Balance		3,173,699		3,305,757
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		2,969,497		3,093,912
Losses		(239,502)		$ (255,230)
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans		$ (100)	$ (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.