Basis of Statement Presentation	9 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure	BASIS OF STATEMENT PRESENTATION The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in compliance with instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The financial statements and the related notes are condensed and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended July 31, 2011 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Oil-Dri Corporation of America and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated. Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references to "Oil-Dri," the "Company," "we," "us" or "our" refer to Oil-Dri Corporation of America and its subsidiaries. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the statements contained herein. Operating results for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2012 are not necessarily an indication of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2012. The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures. Estimates are revised periodically. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Under the terms of our sales agreements with customers, we recognize revenue when risk of loss and title are transferred. An invoice is generated upon shipment that sets the fixed and determinable price. Promotional reserves are provided for sales incentives made directly to consumers and customers, and are netted against sales. Sales returns and allowances are not material. Selling, general and administrative expenses include salaries, wages and benefits associated with staff outside the manufacturing and distribution functions, all marketing related costs, any miscellaneous trade spending expenses not required to be included in net sales, research and development costs, depreciation and amortization related to assets outside the manufacturing and distribution process and all other non-manufacturing and non-distribution expenses. We evaluate our allowance for doubtful accounts utilizing a combination of a historical experience and a periodic review of our accounts receivable aging and specific customer account analysis. A customer account is determined to be uncollectible when we have completed our internal collection procedures, including termination of shipments, direct customer contact and formal demand of payment. We maintain and monitor a list of customers whose creditworthiness has diminished. As part of our overall operations, we mine sorbent materials on property that we either own or lease. A significant part of our overall mining cost is incurred during the process of removing the overburden (non-usable material) from the mine site, thus exposing the sorbent material that is then used in a majority of our production processes. These stripping costs are treated as a variable inventory production cost and are included in cost of sales in the period they are incurred. We defer as prepaid expense and amortize the pre-production overburden removal costs associated with opening a new mine. We perform ongoing reclamation activities during the normal course of our overburden removal. As overburden is removed from a pit, it is hauled to previously mined pits and used to refill older sites. This process allows us to continuously reclaim older pits and dispose of overburden simultaneously, therefore minimizing our liability for future reclamation costs. Additionally, it is our policy to capitalize the purchase cost of land and mineral rights, including associated legal fees, survey fees and real estate fees. The costs of obtaining mineral patents, including legal fees and drilling expenses, are also capitalized. Pre-production development costs on new mines and any prepaid royalties that can be offset against future royalties due upon extraction of the minerals are also capitalized. All exploration related costs are expensed as incurred.

BASIS OF STATEMENT PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in compliance with instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The financial statements and the related notes are condensed and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended July 31, 2011 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Oil-Dri Corporation of America and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated. Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references to "Oil-Dri," the "Company," "we," "us" or "our" refer to Oil-Dri Corporation of America and its subsidiaries.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the statements contained herein. Operating results for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2012 are not necessarily an indication of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2012.

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures. Estimates are revised periodically. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Under the terms of our sales agreements with customers, we recognize revenue when risk of loss and title are transferred. An invoice is generated upon shipment that sets the fixed and determinable price. Promotional reserves are provided for sales incentives made directly to consumers and customers, and are netted against sales. Sales returns and allowances are not material. Selling, general and administrative expenses include salaries, wages and benefits associated with staff outside the manufacturing and distribution functions, all marketing related costs, any miscellaneous trade spending expenses not required to be included in net sales, research and development costs, depreciation and amortization related to assets outside the manufacturing and distribution process and all other non-manufacturing and non-distribution expenses.

We evaluate our allowance for doubtful accounts utilizing a combination of a historical experience and a periodic review of our accounts receivable aging and specific customer account analysis. A customer account is determined to be uncollectible when we have completed our internal collection procedures, including termination of shipments, direct customer contact and formal demand of payment. We maintain and monitor a list of customers whose creditworthiness has diminished.

As part of our overall operations, we mine sorbent materials on property that we either own or lease. A significant part of our overall mining cost is incurred during the process of removing the overburden (non-usable material) from the mine site, thus exposing the sorbent material that is then used in a majority of our production processes. These stripping costs are treated as a variable inventory production cost and are included in cost of sales in the period they are incurred. We defer as prepaid expense and amortize the pre-production overburden removal costs associated with opening a new mine.

We perform ongoing reclamation activities during the normal course of our overburden removal. As overburden is removed from a pit, it is hauled to previously mined pits and used to refill older sites. This process allows us to continuously reclaim older pits and dispose of overburden simultaneously, therefore minimizing our liability for future reclamation costs.

Additionally, it is our policy to capitalize the purchase cost of land and mineral rights, including associated legal fees, survey fees and real estate fees. The costs of obtaining mineral patents, including legal fees and drilling expenses, are also capitalized. Pre-production development costs on new mines and any prepaid royalties that can be offset against future royalties due upon extraction of the minerals are also capitalized. All exploration related costs are expensed as incurred.