v3.26.1
Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2026
USD ($)
loan
Jun. 30, 2025
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2025
USD ($)
loan
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Unpaid Principal Balance   $ 17,097,672   $ 16,000,731
Loans, at fair value(1)(2) [1],[2]   17,874,430   16,640,647
Unpaid principal balance on unactive loans   542,200   520,100
Accrued expenses and other liabilities(1) [1]   57,930   55,105
Government Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure Receivable        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Unpaid principal balance on unactive loans   604,500   469,200
Residential mortgage loans        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount   112,800   133,300
Unpaid Principal Balance   3,674,683   3,739,813
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)   3,559,269   3,643,094
Losses   (173,897)   (161,034)
Consumer loans        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Unpaid Principal Balance   125   190
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)   108   159
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans $ 23 (21) $ (23)  
Losses   (187)   (215)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss   200   200
Commercial mortgage loans        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount   25,900    
Unpaid Principal Balance   680,967   648,592
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)   $ 675,066   640,712
Number of mortgage loans in process of foreclosure   4    
Mortgage Loans In Process Of Foreclosure, Unpaid Principal Balance   $ 25,900    
Losses   (1,301)   (380)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss   600   400
Corporate loan [Member]        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Unpaid Principal Balance   53,393   25,767
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)   52,575   25,366
Losses   (197)   0
Proprietary reverse mortgage loans        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Transfer to held-for-investment from held-for-sale - Loan UPB $ 103,400   $ 200,700  
Non-performing | Residential mortgage loans        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Unpaid Principal Balance   231,606   266,485
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)   $ 209,759   $ 246,586
Non-performing | Commercial mortgage loans        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Number of loans | loan   8   7
Unpaid Principal Balance   $ 58,300   $ 64,800
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)   53,300   64,100
Performing Financial Instruments [Member] | Residential mortgage loans        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Unpaid Principal Balance   21,253   23,062
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)   $ 20,038   $ 22,148
[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 12 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.
[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 14 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.