v2.4.1.9

Financial Derivatives Financial Derivatives (Schedule of Derivative Activity) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Average Monthly Notional Amount | $ 2,227,315 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember | $ 828,442 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Credit Default Swap [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Average Monthly Notional Amount | 552,411 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember | 319,603 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Total Return Swaps [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Average Monthly Notional Amount | 55,108 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember | 29,212 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
Futures [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Average Monthly Notional Amount | 738,830 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_FutureMember | 134,831 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_FutureMember
Option contract [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Average Monthly Notional Amount | 926,369 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = efc_OptioncontractMember | 10,736 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = efc_OptioncontractMember
Forwards [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Average Monthly Notional Amount | 42,143 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember | 369 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Warrant [Member] |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Average Monthly Notional Amount | $ 120 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_WarrantMember | $ 0 efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_WarrantMember

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- Definition Average notional for the period using absolute value of month end notional amounts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=efc_OptioncontractMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
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Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=us-gaap_WarrantMember
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Data Type: | na
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