v3.8.0.1

Financial Highlights (Expense Ratios To Average Equity) (Details) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016
Investment Company, Financial Highlights [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Operating expenses, before interest expense and other investment related expenses | [1],[2] | (2.76%) | (2.89%) | (2.80%) | (2.88%)
Interest expense and other investment related expenses | [1],[2] | (6.32%) | (3.69%) | (5.69%) | (3.43%)
Total Expenses | [1],[2] | (9.08%) | (6.58%) | (8.49%) | (6.31%)
[1] | Average equity is calculated using month end values.
[2] | Includes all items of income and expense on an annualized basis.

X
- Definition The ratio of interest and other investment related expenses to average total equity (including non-controlling interest). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_RatioOfInterestandotherinvestmentrelatedExpensesToAverageEquity
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The ratio of operating expenses (before incentive fee, interest expense, and other investment related expenses) to average total equity (inclusive of non-controlling interest). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_RatioOfOperatingExpensesBeforeIncentiveFeeInterestExpenseandOtherInvestmentRelatedExpensesToAverageEquity
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of expense, after incentive allocation, to average net assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 205 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25866437&loc=d3e10342-115837 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentCompanyExpenseRatioAfterIncentiveAllocation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentCompanyFinancialHighlightsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration