Organization and Investment Objective	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Investment Objective	Organization and Investment Objective Ellington Financial Inc. commenced operations on August 17, 2007 and is a Delaware corporation. Ellington Financial Operating Partnership LLC (the "Operating Partnership"), a 98.9% owned consolidated subsidiary of Ellington Financial Inc., was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on December 14, 2012 and commenced operations on January 1, 2013. All of Ellington Financial Inc.'s operations and business activities are conducted through the Operating Partnership. Ellington Financial Inc., the Operating Partnership, and their consolidated subsidiaries are hereafter collectively referred to as the "Company." All intercompany accounts are eliminated in consolidation. The Company conducts its operations to qualify and be taxed as a real estate investment trust (a "REIT") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Ellington Financial Management LLC (the "Manager") is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves as the manager to the Company pursuant to the terms of its Ninth Amended and Restated Management Agreement (the "Management Agreement"); see Note 16 for additional details. The Manager is an affiliate of Ellington Management Group, L.L.C. ("Ellington"), an investment management firm that is registered as both an investment adviser and a commodity pool operator. In accordance with the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager implements the investment strategy and manages the business and operations on a day-to-day basis for the Company and performs certain services for the Company, subject to oversight by Ellington Financial Inc.'s Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors"). The Company has two reportable segments, the Investment Portfolio Segment and the Longbridge Segment. The Investment Portfolio Segment is focused on investing in a diverse array of financial assets, including residential and commercial mortgage loans; residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"); commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS"); investments referencing a portfolio of mortgage servicing rights on forward mortgage loans ("Forward MSR-related investments"); consumer loans and asset-backed securities ("ABS") including ABS backed by consumer loans; collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs"); non-mortgage- and mortgage-related derivatives; debt and equity investments in loan origination companies; and other strategic investments. The Longbridge Segment is primarily focused on the origination and servicing of, and investment in, reverse mortgage loans, including associated financial assets, financing, hedging, and allocated expenses. Longbridge Financial, LLC ("Longbridge"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquires reverse mortgage loans both through its origination activities and through secondary market purchases. Historically, the majority of loans acquired by Longbridge have been home equity conversion mortgage loans ("HECMs") which are insured by the Federal Housing Administration ("FHA"). Such loans are generally eligible for securitization into HECM-backed MBS ("HMBS") which are guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"). Longbridge is an approved issuer of HMBS, and it transfers HECM loans into HMBS, which it then sells in the secondary market while retaining the servicing rights on the underlying HECM loans. Longbridge also originates and purchases non-FHA-insured reverse mortgage loans originated under guidelines established by private lenders, which the Company refers to as "Proprietary reverse mortgage loans." Proprietary reverse mortgage loans typically carry loan balances or credit lines that exceed FHA limits or have other characteristics that make them ineligible for FHA insurance.

Ellington Financial Inc. commenced operations on August 17, 2007 and is a Delaware corporation. Ellington Financial Operating Partnership LLC (the "Operating Partnership"), a 98.9% owned consolidated subsidiary of Ellington Financial Inc., was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on December 14, 2012 and commenced operations on January 1, 2013. All of Ellington Financial Inc.'s operations and business activities are conducted through the Operating Partnership. Ellington Financial Inc., the Operating Partnership, and their consolidated subsidiaries are hereafter collectively referred to as the "Company." All intercompany accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

Ellington Financial Management LLC (the "Manager") is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves as the manager to the Company pursuant to the terms of its Ninth Amended and Restated Management Agreement (the "Management Agreement"); see Note 16 for additional details. The Manager is an affiliate of Ellington Management Group, L.L.C. ("Ellington"), an investment management firm that is registered as both an investment adviser and a commodity pool operator. In accordance with the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager implements the investment strategy and manages the business and operations on a day-to-day basis for the Company and performs certain services for the Company, subject to oversight by Ellington Financial Inc.'s Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors").

The Company has two reportable segments, the Investment Portfolio Segment and the Longbridge Segment. The Investment Portfolio Segment is focused on investing in a diverse array of financial assets, including residential and commercial mortgage loans; residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"); commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS"); investments referencing a portfolio of mortgage servicing rights on forward mortgage loans ("Forward MSR-related investments"); consumer loans and asset-backed securities ("ABS") including ABS backed by consumer loans; collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs"); non-mortgage- and mortgage-related derivatives; debt and equity investments in loan origination companies; and other strategic investments. The Longbridge Segment is primarily focused on the origination and servicing of, and investment in, reverse mortgage loans, including associated financial assets, financing, hedging, and allocated expenses. Longbridge Financial, LLC ("Longbridge"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquires reverse mortgage loans both through its origination activities and through secondary market purchases. Historically, the majority of loans acquired by Longbridge have been home equity conversion mortgage loans ("HECMs") which are insured by the Federal Housing Administration ("FHA"). Such loans are generally eligible for securitization into HECM-backed MBS ("HMBS") which are guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"). Longbridge is an approved issuer of HMBS, and it transfers HECM loans into HMBS, which it then sells in the secondary market while retaining the servicing rights on the underlying HECM loans. Longbridge also originates and purchases non-FHA-insured reverse mortgage loans originated under guidelines established by private lenders, which the Company refers to as "Proprietary reverse mortgage loans." Proprietary reverse mortgage loans typically carry loan balances or credit lines that exceed FHA limits or have other characteristics that make them ineligible for FHA insurance.