Borrowings (Details) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2025 USD ($) counterparty		Jun. 30, 2024 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) counterparty		Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Borrowings [Line Items]
Total secured borrowings		$ 14,600,000				$ 13,900,000
Number of Counterparties with Outstanding Reverse Repurchase Agreements | counterparty		24				24
Securities Collateral relating to Reverse Repurchase Agreements		$ 3,000,000				$ 3,300,000
Repurchase Agreements amount at risk threshold		10.00%
Other secured borrowings(1)	[1]	$ 340,289				253,300
Other secured borrowings, at fair value(1)	[1]	2,127,225				1,934,309
HMBS-related obligations, at fair value		9,814,811				9,150,883
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value		211,013	[1]	$ 198,513	[1]	192,387	[1]	$ 228,927
Investment related receivables(1)	[1]	170,657				189,081
Non-QM loan securitization
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings, at fair value(1)		$ 1,280,000				$ 1,320,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		3.07%				3.04%
Secured borrowing facility collateralized by HECM tail draws
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings(1)		$ 18,300				$ 19,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		8.00%				8.00%
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		$ 30,600				$ 30,100
GNMA HMBS
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		5.91%				5.90%
HMBS-related obligations, at fair value		$ 9,800,000				$ 9,200,000
MLPS Counterparty
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings(1)		$ 22,100				$ 14,300
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		6.94%				6.85%
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		$ 23,500				$ 14,400
Reverse Loan Securitization
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings, at fair value(1)		$ 805,000				$ 576,500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		4.91%				4.81%
European Residential Loan Securitization
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings, at fair value(1)		$ 38,800				$ 39,600
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		7.82%				7.94%
Secured Revolving Borrowing Facility Collateralized by ABS Backed by Consumer Loans
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings(1)		$ 31,300				$ 34,800
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		8.53%				8.47%
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		$ 54,600				$ 59,200
Secured Borrowing Facility Collateralized by Proprietary Reverse Loans
Borrowings [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings(1)		$ 97,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		7.10%
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		$ 103,100
Additional Working Capital Advances		$ 20,000
Minimum
Borrowings [Line Items]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Maturity		30 days
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		1 day		2 days
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		2.84%				3.65%
Maximum
Borrowings [Line Items]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Maturity		364 days
Repurchase agreements, remaining days to maturity		382 days		563 days
Repurchase Agreements Interest Rate		7.69%				7.96%
Repurchase Agreements
Borrowings [Line Items]
Securities Collateral relating to Reverse Repurchase Agreements		$ 2,299,826				$ 2,416,773
Cash collateral posted for securities sold under agreements to repurchase		4,500				5,300
Securities Collateral Posted for Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase		300				500
Securitized residential mortgage loans
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		1,420,000				1,450,000
HECM loans | GNMA HMBS
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		9,900,000				9,200,000
Securitized Reverse Mortgage Loans
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		828,400				604,800
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value		18,000				15,000
Investment related receivables(1)		7,500
Securitized European Residential Mortgage Loans
Borrowings [Line Items]
Fair Value of Assets Transfered and Accounted for as Secured Borrowings		38,700				39,200
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value		1,100				$ 1,100
5.875% Senior Notes | Unsecured Borrowings
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 210,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.875%
Redemption percentage		100.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Apr. 01, 2027
6.75% Senior Notes | Unsecured Borrowings
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 34,900
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.75%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Mar. 15, 2025
6.00% Senior Notes | Unsecured Borrowings
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 37,800
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Aug. 01, 2026
Trusted Preferred Debt | Unsecured Borrowings
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 15,000
Trusted Preferred Debt | Unsecured Borrowings | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | October 7, 2033
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 10,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Oct. 07, 2033
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		3.26%
Trusted Preferred Debt | Unsecured Borrowings | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | July 5, 2035
Borrowings [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 5,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Jul. 07, 2035
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.51%

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Condensed 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.