v3.20.4
Investment in Loans (Schedule of Consumer Loans) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Unpaid Principal Balance $ 1,417,054 $ 1,387,733  
Unamortized Premium (Discount) (196,118) (150,821)  
Investments, at fair value, Cost     $ 2,970,306
Loans, at fair value [1],[2] $ 1,453,480 $ 1,412,426  
Weighted Average      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Weighted average life 4 years 5 months 26 days 5 years 10 months 24 days  
Consumer loans      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Fair value of charged-off loans $ 600 $ 600  
Unpaid Principal Balance 48,180 179,743  
Unamortized Premium (Discount) 72 5,027  
Investments, at fair value, Cost 48,252 184,770  
Gains 1,160 2,561  
Losses (1,887) (377)  
Loans, at fair value $ 47,525 $ 186,954  
Consumer loans | Weighted Average      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Weighted average life 1 year 14 days 9 months 25 days  
Delinquency (Days) 7 days 4 days  
[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Consolidated Balance Sheet includes assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 9 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.
[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 11 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.