v3.19.1

Financial Derivatives (Schedule of Credit Derivatives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Mar. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
--- | --- | ---
Credit Default Swap, Selling Protection [Member] |  |
Credit Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value of Written Credit Derivatives, Net | $ 2,598 | $ (4,339)
Notional value | 89,230 | 98,586
Credit Default Swap, Buying Protection [Member] |  |
Credit Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Fair Value of Written Credit Derivatives, Net | (167) | (284)
Notional value | $ 13,153 | $ 41,134

X
- Definition Derivative notional amount + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_DerivativeNotional
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CreditDerivativesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Fair value of credit risk derivative asset after deduction of credit risk derivative liability. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4K -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5708775-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativesAtFairValueNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis=us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapSellingProtectionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis=us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapBuyingProtectionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |