v3.10.0.1

Securitization Transactions Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Dec. 31, 2017

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Face amount of notes distributed from Risk Retention Vehicle

$ 5,600

Investments Fair Value

$ 2,625,471

$ 2,071,707

Minimum economic interest required to be retained

5.00%

Participation in Multi-Seller Consumer Loan Securitization [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans sold

$ 124,000

Company's share of loans sold

51.00%

Co-participants share of loans sold

49.00%

Gain (Loss) on Securitization of Financial Assets

$ (100)

Senior notes issued in securitization transaction

87,000

Subordinated notes issued in securitization transaction

$ 18,700

Company's initial percentage ownership of jointly owned entity

51.00%

Affiliated co-participants initial percentage ownership of jointly owned entity

49.00%

Company's current percentage ownership of jointly owned entity

75.00%

75.00%

CLO I Securitization [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Gain (Loss) on Securitization of Financial Assets

$ 200

Percentage non-controlling ownership of related party

25.00%

The Company [Member] | CLO I Securitization [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Corporate loans transferred into CLO securitization

$ 62,000

Affiliated Entity [Member] | CLO I Securitization [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Corporate loans transferred into CLO securitization

141,700

Collateralized Loan Obligations [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Investments Fair Value

210,321

^[1],[2]

$ 210,816

^[3],[4]

Collateralized Loan Obligations [Member] | CLO I Securitization [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Investments Fair Value

^[5],[6]

18,215

^[7]

24,299

^[8]

Collateralized Loan Obligations [Member] | CLO II Securitization [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Investments Fair Value

^[6],[8]

16,806

13,395

Collateralized Loan Obligations [Member] | Distributed from Risk Retention Vehicle [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Investments Fair Value

5,000

Corporate Equity Investments [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Investments Fair Value

45,505

^[1],[2]

37,465

^[3],[4]

Corporate Equity Investments [Member] | CLO I Securitization [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Investments Fair Value

^[3],[4],[9]

5,300

$ 5,000

Non-QM loan securitization [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Notes issued by non-QM securitization trust

$ 141,200

Economic interest retained

5.10%

Cost of notes purchased from securitization trust

$ 700

Threshold for exercising Optional Redemption

30.00%

Percentage used to calculate servicing administrator fee

0.03%

Non-QM loan securitization [Member] | The Company [Member]

Securitization Transactions [Line Items]

Non-QM loans transferred into securitization trust

$ 141,200

[1]	See Note 2 and Note 3 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
[2]	The table below shows the Company's long investment ratings from Moody's, Standard and Poor's, or Fitch, as well as the Company's long investments that were unrated but guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or the Government National Mortgage Association. Ratings tend to be a lagging credit indicator; as a result, the credit quality of the Company's long investment holdings may be lower than the credit quality implied based on the ratings listed below. In situations where an investment has a split rating, the lowest provided rating is used. The ratings descriptions include ratings qualified with a "+," "-," "1," "2," or "3."Rating Description Percent of EquityUnrated but Agency-Guaranteed 206.36%Aaa/AAA/AAA 11.52%Aa/AA/AA 0.85%A/A/A 1.04%Baa/BBB/BBB 4.71%Ba/BB/BB or below 67.62%Unrated 136.01%
[3]	See Note 2 and Note 3 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
[4]	The table below shows the ratings on the Company's long investments from Moody's, Standard and Poor's, or Fitch, as well as the Company's long investments that were unrated but guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or the Government National Mortgage Association. Ratings tend to be a lagging credit indicator; as a result, the credit quality of the Company's long investment holdings may be lower than the credit quality implied based on the ratings listed below. In situations where an investment has a split rating, the lowest provided rating is used. The ratings descriptions include ratings qualified with a "+," "-," "1," "2," or "3."Rating Description Percent of EquityUnrated but Agency-Guaranteed 160.32%A/A/A 0.81%Baa/BBB/BBB 2.62%Ba/BB/BB or below 68.03%Unrated 101.85%
[5]	Excludes the Company's equity investment in the CLO I Risk Retention Vehicle, as discussed above.
[6]	Included on the Company's Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments in Collateralized Loan Obligations.
[7]	Includes unsecured subordinated notes.
[8]	Includes secured and unsecured subordinated notes.
[9]	Represents the Company's investment in a related party. See Note 9 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

X

- Definition

Affiliated co-participant's initial percentage ownership of jointly owned entity with the Company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Affiliatedcoparticipantsinitialpercentageownershipofjointlyownedentity
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Aggregate unpaid principal balance of consumer loans sold by the Company and another entity managed by an affiliate of Ellington (the "co-participant").

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Aggregateunpaidprincipalbalanceofloanssold
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Company's initial percentage ownership of jointly owned entity with affiliated co-participant.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Companysinitialpercentageownershipofjointlyownedentity
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Company's percentage ownership of jointly owned entity with affiliated co-participant.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Companyspercentageownershipofjointlyownedentity
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Percentage of aggregate unpaid principal balance of consumer loans sold by the Company to Issuer in securitization transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Companysshareofloanssold
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Percentage of aggregate unpaid principal balance of consumer loans sold by the co-participant (affiliate of the Company) to Issuer in securitization transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Coparticipantsshareofloanssold
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Fair value of corporate loans transferred into CLO securitization

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_CorporateloanstransferredintoCLOsecuritization
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Cost of notes purchased from securitization trust

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Costofnotespurchasedfromsecuritizationtrust
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Economic interest in CLO securitization retained by affiliated entity in compliance with risk retention rules.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Economicinterestretained
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Face amount of notes distributed from Risk Retention Vehicle to the Company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_FaceamountofnotesdistributedfromRiskRetentionVehicle
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Minimum amount of economic interest required to be retained in securitization under risk retention rules.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Minimumeconomicinterestrequiredtoberetained
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Fair value of non-QM loans transferred into securitization trust.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_NonQMloanstransferredintosecuritizationtrust
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Original face amount of notes issued by non-QM securitization trust pursuant to a securitization.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_NotesissuedbynonQMsecuritizationtrust
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Percentage non-controlling ownership of related party

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Percentagenoncontrollingownershipofrelatedparty
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Percentage used in calculating the servicing administrator fee the Company receives in connection with a securitization transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Percentageusedtocalculateservicingadministratorfee
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

[Line Items] for Securitization Transactions [Table]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_SecuritizationTransactionsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Original face amount of senior notes issued pursuant to the securitization.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Seniornotesissuedinsecuritizationtransaction
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Original face amount of subordinated notes issued pursuant to the securitization.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_Subordinatednotesissuedinsecuritizationtransaction
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Threshold under which the aggregate stated principal balance of non-QM loans in securitization trust must be in order to exercise the Optional Redemption prior to the two year anniversary of the Closing Date of the securitization.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_ThresholdforexercisingOptionalRedemption
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

A gain (loss) realized on a transfer, accounted for as a sale, of all or a portion of financial assets in which the transferor surrenders control and receives consideration other than a beneficial interest in the assets transferred. Reflects the amount of sales proceeds in excess of, or deficient from, the sum of the carrying amounts of transferred financial assets plus transaction costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7,9)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSecuritizationOfFinancialAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Value of the investment at close of period. For schedules of investments that are categorized, the value would be aggregated by category. For investment in and advances to affiliates, if operations of any controlled companies are different in character from those of the company, group such affiliates within divisions and by type of activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488139&loc=d3e12121-115841

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12.Column C.3,4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611133-123010

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14.Column E.2,3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C.Column C.7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611225-123010

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-13.Column C.6)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611282-123010

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentOwnedAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=efc_ParticipationinMultiSellerConsumerLoanSecuritizationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=efc_CLOISecuritizationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	efc_TransferorAxis=efc_TheCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	efc_TransferorAxis=us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=efc_CLOIISecuritizationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=efc_DistributedfromRiskRetentionVehicleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis=efc_NonQMloansecuritizationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: