Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Net Interest Income
Interest income	$ 274,335	$ 183,575	$ 83,145
Interest expense	158,860	85,017	21,224
Total net interest income	115,475	98,558	61,921
Other Income
(Loss) gain on sale of investments	(2,688)	13,000	0
Change in net assets related to CMBS consolidated variable interest entities	1,665	2,588	15,845
Income from equity method investments	4,568	3,065	875
Other income	2,453	1,440	968
Total other income (loss)	5,998	20,093	17,688
Operating Expenses
General and administrative	10,522	7,812	4,936
Management fees to affiliate	17,135	16,346	13,492
Incentive compensation to affiliate	3,272	4,756	0
Total operating expenses	30,929	28,914	18,428
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interests and Preferred Dividends	90,544	89,737	61,181
Income tax expense (benefit)	579	(70)	1,102
Net Income (Loss)	89,965	89,807	60,079
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Income (Loss) of Consolidated Joint Venture	0	63	216
Noncontrolling Interests in Income (Loss) of Consolidated Joint Venture	0	0	801
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. and Subsidiaries	89,965	89,744	59,062
Preferred Stock Dividends and Redemption Value Adjustment	(527)	2,451	244
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 90,492	$ 87,293	$ 58,818
Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock
Basic (usd per share)	$ 1.58	$ 1.58	$ 1.30
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 1.57	$ 1.58	$ 1.30
Weighted Average Number of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding
Basic (shares)	57,426,912	55,136,548	45,320,358
Diluted (shares)	57,532,490	55,171,061	45,321,360
Dividends Declared per Share of Common Stock (usd per share)	$ 1.72	$ 1.69	$ 1.62