Debt Securities, Available For Sale, Coupon Rate

No definition available.

Name:	mfa_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleCouponRate
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Securities, Weighted Average Market Price, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mfa_DebtSecuritiesWeightedAverageMarketPricePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Securities, Weighted Average Purchase Price, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mfa_DebtSecuritiesWeightedAveragePurchasePricePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)(i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 825
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482881/825-10-55-10

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482736/825-10-45-1A

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482907/825-10-50-11

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482907/825-10-50-11

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482907/825-10-50-10

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 12
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482881/825-10-55-12

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 103
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482078/820-10-55-103

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 100
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482078/820-10-55-100

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (aa)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481830/320-10-45-1

Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(6))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478546/942-210-S99-1

Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479130/326-30-45-1

+ Details

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

- Definition

Period between issuance and maturity of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale), in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average yield of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1403
-Paragraph a
-Publisher SEC

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleWeightedAverageYield
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of principal of investment owned.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-6

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477439/946-210-55-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478795/946-210-50-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12(Column B))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477271/946-320-S99-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12B(Column B))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477271/946-320-S99-3

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14(Column B))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477271/946-320-S99-6

+ Details

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

- 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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (aa)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (aaa)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-3

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-3

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-3

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-3

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=mfa_AgencyMBSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=mfa_A4.50CouponMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=mfa_A500CouponMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=mfa_A550CouponMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=mfa_A600CouponMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=mfa_A6.50CouponMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: