Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 06, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-34569
Entity Registrant Name	Ellington Financial Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	26-0489289
Entity Address, Address Line One	53 Forest Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Old Greenwich
Entity Address, State or Province	CT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	06870
City Area Code	203
Local Phone Number	698-1200
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 477,738,614
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		44,068,096
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0001411342
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	EFC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.750% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	EFC PR A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE