Securitization Transactions Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2025 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2025 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($)
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	$ 909,851		$ 909,851		$ 962,254
Unpaid principal balance of HECM loans pooled into HMBS		$ 338,400	$ 331,200	$ 1,060,000	$ 940,200
Number of HMBS pools being serviced		997		997		894
Unpaid principal balance of loans in HMBS - Servicing		$ 9,600,000		$ 9,600,000		$ 8,800,000
HMBS buyouts		42,900	61,900	104,900	318,300
HMBS buyouts transferred to third party			$ 42,900		$ 281,500
Investments in unconsolidated entities, at fair value(1)	[1]	$ 287,686		$ 287,686		$ 220,078
Secured borrowing facility collateralized by HECM tail draws
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Rate		7.75%		7.75%		8.00%
Participation in Multi-Seller Consumer Loan Securitization [Member]
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities, at fair value(1)		$ 200		$ 200		$ 500
Co-Sponsored Securitization
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		177,000		$ 177,000		48,200
Non-QM loan securitization
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Threshold for exercising Optional Redemption				30.00%
Non-QM loan securitization | November 2019
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Total Face Amount of Certificates Issued				$ 267,255
Non-QM loan securitization, not consolidated
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		132,000		132,000		28,900
Non-QM loan securitization, not consolidated | December 2022
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Total Face Amount of Certificates Issued				365,262
Non-QM loan securitization, not consolidated | December 2022 | Participated Risk Retention Vehicle
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated entities, at fair value(1)		$ 50,600		$ 50,600		$ 14,500
Proprietary Reverse Mortgage Loan Securitization
Securitization Transactions [Line Items]
Percentage used to calculate servicing administrator fee				0.03%

[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.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 14 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.