Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount			$ 9,100
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 1,387,733
Loans, at fair value	[1]	1,412,426
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Impairment Losses, Recognized in Earnings		900
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		10,900
Unpaid Principal Balance		911,705
Loans, at fair value		932,203
Residential mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		17,757
Loans, at fair value		15,580
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		16,000
Unpaid Principal Balance		277,870
Loans, at fair value		$ 274,759
Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Number of loans | loan		3
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 28,900
Loans, at fair value		26,500
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Delinquent loans, charged off		19,000
Fair value of charged-off loans		600
Impairment Losses, Recognized in Earnings		6,300
Unpaid Principal Balance		179,743
Loans, at fair value		186,954
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		18,415
Loans, at fair value		$ 18,510

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Consolidated Balance Sheet includes assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 9 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.