Two Harbors Investment Corp. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Schedule of Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash	$ 712,791	$ 635,836
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Held for Securities Trading Activity [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash	27,050	27,050
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Held for Derivatives Trading Activity [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash	228,941	191,421
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Pledged as Restricted Collateral for Borrowings [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash	456,453	417,018
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Held by Counterparties [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash	712,444	635,489
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents for Lease [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash	$ 347	$ 347