Schedule of Carrying Amounts and Classifications of CFE's Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Collateralized Securities Transactions [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment in securitization trusts, at fair value		$ 209,418	$ 226,908
Total assets	[1]	14,094,505	16,137,526
Collateralized borrowings in securitization trusts		60,550	57,611
Accrued interest payable		3,052	4,938
Other liabilities		30,632	27,870
Total liabilities	[1]	12,049,134	13,994,169
CFE
Collateralized Securities Transactions [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment in securitization trusts, at fair value		208,047	225,285
Accrued interest receivable and other assets		8,176	2,955
Total assets		216,223	228,240
Collateralized borrowings in securitization trusts		60,550	57,611
Accrued interest payable		125	133
Other liabilities		37	40
Total liabilities		$ 60,712	$ 57,784

[1] The consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, include $216,224 and $228,240 of assets of a consolidated collateralized financing entity (“CFE”) that can only be used to settle obligations of the CFE as well as liabilities of $60,712 and $57,784 of the CFE for which creditors do not have recourse to Hatteras Financial Corp.