Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Apr. 12, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Document Information Line Items
Entity Registrant Name	CHICAGO ATLANTIC REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC.
Trading Symbol	REFI
Document Type	10-K
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,752,603
Entity Public Float			$ 96,600,000
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001867949
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Ex Transition Period	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	false
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-41123
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	86-3125132
Entity Address, Address Line One	420 North Wabash Avenue
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 500
Entity Address, City or Town	Chicago
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60611
City Area Code	(312)
Local Phone Number	809-7002
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Interactive Data Current	No
Auditor Firm ID	243
Auditor Name	BDO USA, LLP
Auditor Location	Chicago, Illinois