Related Party Transactions (Promissory Note to Related Party) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2025	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2025	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2024
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 14,926,381		$ 14,926,381		$ 13,657,446
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	15,531,299		15,531,299		13,999,572
Realized gains (losses) on securities and loans, net		9,335	$ (12,243)	7,442	$ (52,419)
Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities		13,074	$ 7,281	38,449	$ 21,549
Corporate loan [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		18,563		18,563		11,767
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 18,304		$ 18,304		$ 11,767
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date May 2021
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment Maturity Date		Dec. 31, 2025		Dec. 31, 2025
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 6,000		$ 6,000
Investment Interest Rate		12.00%		12.00%		12.00%
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 0		$ 0		$ 1,000
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 0		$ 0		$ 1,000
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory Note to Equity Method Investee, Effective Date February 2022
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment Maturity Date		Dec. 31, 2025		Dec. 31, 2025
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 750		$ 750
Investment Interest Rate		7.00%		7.00%		7.00%
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 625		$ 625		$ 625
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		625		625		625
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory Note to Equity Method Investee, the Residential Originator
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		8,500		8,500		8,500
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		8,500		8,500		8,500
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory Note to Equity Method Investee, the Residential Originator | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 14,000		$ 14,000
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory Note to Equity Method Investee, Effective Date June 2025
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment Maturity Date		Jun. 09, 2028		Jun. 09, 2028
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 1,750		$ 1,750
Investment Interest Rate		9.00%		9.00%
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 350		$ 350		0
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		350		350		0
Consumer loans
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		241		241		556
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		208		208		$ 477
Consumer loans | Equity Method Investee | Promissory Note to Equity Method Investee, the Consumer Originator
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 1,000		$ 1,000
Investment Interest Rate		4.00%		4.00%
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 200		$ 200

[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.