Equity and Earnings per Share - Earnings per share calculations (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Jul. 09, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Net Income (Loss) Per Class A Shareholders, Basic
Net income (loss) available to Class A shareholders	$ (158,573)
Total weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	84,824,109
Net Income (Loss) Per Class A Shareholders, Basic (in usd per share)	$ (1.87)
Net Income (Loss) Per Class A Shareholders, Diluted
Net income (loss) available to Class A shareholders	$ (158,573)
Total weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	84,824,109
Net Income (Loss) Per Class A Shareholders, Diluted (in usd per share)	$ (1.87)
Net income (loss) available to Class A shareholders
Net income (loss)	$ (247,084)	$ 6,131	$ 10,624
Noncontrolling interests in loss of consolidated subsidiaries	87,528	$ 0	$ 0
Other weighting adjustments	983
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Class A Shareholders	(158,573)
Noncontrolling interests in income (loss) of Sunlight Financial LLC, net of assumed corporate income taxes at enacted rates, attributable to Class EX units exchangeable into Sunlight Financial Holdings Inc. Class A shares	0
Net income (loss) available to Class A shareholders, diluted	$ (158,573)
Weighted average number of Class A shares outstanding
Class A shares outstanding (in shares)	84,824,109
Class EX units exchangeable into Sunlight Financial Holdings Inc. Class A shares (in shares)	0
Incremental Class A Shares attributable to dilutive effect of warrants (in shares)	0
Total weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	84,824,109