Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2025 USD ($) loan	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2025 USD ($) loan	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) loan
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [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
Unpaid principal balance on unactive loans		472,900		472,900		388,200
Accrued expenses and other liabilities(1)	[1]	50,478		50,478		38,566
Government Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid principal balance on unactive loans		507,100		507,100		373,800
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount		160,500		160,500		121,500
Unpaid Principal Balance		3,338,338		3,338,338		3,689,355
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		3,234,797		3,234,797		3,539,534
Losses		(158,964)		(158,964)
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		241		241		556
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		208		208		477
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss				200	$ 300
Losses		(245)		(245)		(237)
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		100		100		11,800
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount						11,300
Unpaid Principal Balance		546,466		546,466		370,658
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		545,674		545,674		$ 350,515
Number of mortgage loans in process of foreclosure						1
Mortgage Loans In Process Of Foreclosure, Unpaid Principal Balance						$ 15,500
Losses		(71)		(71)		(11,802)
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		18,563		18,563		11,767
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		18,304		18,304		11,767
Losses		(11)		(11)		0
Proprietary reverse mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Transfer to held-for-investment from held-for-sale - Loan UPB		379,300	$ 97,800	580,000	396,000
Non-performing | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		252,046		252,046		229,140
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 231,817		$ 231,817		$ 215,736
Non-performing | Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Number of loans | loan		8		8		4
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 61,500		$ 61,500		$ 56,500
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		60,700		60,700		37,600
Performing Financial Instruments [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		22,583		22,583		24,640
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		21,715		21,715		22,845
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		3,109,293		3,109,293		3,689,355
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		2,992,977		2,992,977		3,539,534
Losses		$ (158,771)		(158,771)		$ (211,644)
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans			$ (100)	$ 23	$ (100)

[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.