v3.19.1

Financial Highlights (Tables) | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2019
Investment Company, Financial Highlights [Abstract] |
Results of Operations For a Share Outstanding | Results of Operations for a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods:
|  | Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2018
Beginning Shareholders' Equity Per Share (12/31/2017) |  | $ | 19.15 |
Net Investment Income |  | 0.33 |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) |  | 0.36 |
Results of Operations Attributable to Equity |  | 0.69 |
Less: Results of Operations Attributable to Non-controlling Interests |  | (0.01 | )
Results of Operations Attributable to Shareholders' Equity(1) |  | 0.68 |
Dividends Paid to Common Shareholders |  | (0.41 | )
Accretive (Dilutive) Effect of Share Issuances (Net of Offering Costs), Share Repurchases, and Adjustments to Non-controlling Interest |  | 0.14 |
Ending Shareholders' Equity Per Share (12/31/2018)(2) |  | $ | 19.56 |
Shares Outstanding, end of period |  | 30,392,041 |
(1) | Calculated based on average common shares outstanding and can differ from the calculation for EPS (See Note 13).
(2) | If all LTIP Units and OP Units previously issued were vested and exchanged for common shares as of March 31, 2018 shareholders' equity per share would be $19.25.
Net Asset Value Based Total Return For a Shareholder | The following table illustrates the Company's total return for the periods presented based on net asset value: Net Asset Value Based Total Return for a Shareholder: (1)
|  | Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2018
Total Return |  | 4.30%
(1) | Total return is calculated assuming reinvestment of distributions at shareholders' equity per share during the period.
Net Investment Income Ratio to Average Equity | Net Investment Income Ratio to Average Equity: (1)(2)
|  | Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2018
Net Investment Income |  | 6.75%
(1) | Average equity is calculated using month end values.
(2) | Includes all items of income and expense on an annualized basis.
Expense Ratios to Average Equity | Expense Ratios to Average Equity: (1)(2)
|  | Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2018
Operating expenses, before interest expense and other investment related expenses |  | (2.67)%
Interest expense and other investment related expenses |  | (9.56)%
Total Expenses |  | (12.23)%
(1) | Average equity is calculated using month end values.

X
- Definition Expense ratios for the period using average total equity (including non-controlling interest). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_ScheduleOfExpenseRatiosToAverageEquityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure for the entity's total return based on net asset value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_ScheduleOfNetAssetBasedTotalReturnForShareholdersTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Ratio of net investment income to average total equity (including non-controlling interest). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_ScheduleOfNetInvestmentIncomeRatioToAverageEquityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the rollforward of the Company's shareholder's equity per share from the begining of the period to the end of the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_ScheduleOfShareholdersEquityPerShareTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
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