Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Propane and other gas liquids sales	$ 2,160,945,000	$ 2,212,257,000	$ 1,900,318,000
Other	178,147,000	210,958,000	198,742,000
Total revenues	2,339,092,000	2,423,215,000	2,099,060,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales	1,601,886,000	1,609,344,000	1,257,534,000
Cost of product sold - other	95,323,000	124,470,000	108,638,000
Operating expense	401,727,000	411,038,000	409,014,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	83,841,000	82,486,000	82,491,000
General and administrative expense	43,212,000	61,891,000	51,772,000
Equipment lease expense	14,648,000	14,435,000	13,441,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	9,440,000	10,157,000	9,322,000
Loss on disposal of assets and other	6,035,000	3,633,000	8,485,000
Operating income	82,980,000	105,761,000	158,363,000
Interest expense	(93,254,000)	(101,885,000)	(101,284,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(46,962,000)	(20,716,000)
Other income (expense), net	506,000	567,000	(1,108,000)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(9,768,000)	(42,519,000)	35,255,000
Income tax expense	1,128,000	1,241,000	1,916,000
Net earnings (loss)	(10,896,000)	(43,760,000)	33,339,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	56,000	(112,000)	630,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.	(10,952,000)	(43,648,000)	32,709,000
Less: General partner's interest in net earnings (loss)	(110,000)	(436,000)	327,000
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings (loss)	(10,842,000)	(43,212,000)	32,382,000
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unitholders' interest	$ (0.14)	$ (0.60)	$ 0.47
Cash distributions declared per common unit	$ 2.00	$ 2.00	$ 2.00
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative expense	1,999	2,789	568
Net earnings (loss)	(1,999)	(2,789)	(568)
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Revenues:
Propane and other gas liquids sales	2,160,945,000	2,212,257,000	1,900,318,000
Other	178,147,000	210,958,000	198,742,000
Total revenues	2,339,092,000	2,423,215,000	2,099,060,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales	1,601,886,000	1,609,344,000	1,257,534,000
Cost of product sold - other	95,323,000	124,470,000	108,638,000
Operating expense	401,377,000	410,680,000	408,590,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	83,841,000	82,486,000	82,491,000
General and administrative expense	43,212,000	61,891,000	51,772,000
Equipment lease expense	14,648,000	14,435,000	13,441,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	9,440,000	10,157,000	9,322,000
Loss on disposal of assets and other	6,035,000	3,633,000	8,485,000
Operating income	83,330,000	106,119,000	158,787,000
Interest expense	(77,127,000)	(80,074,000)	(76,786,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(36,449,000)	(17,308,000)
Other income (expense), net	506,000	567,000	(442,000)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	6,709,000	(9,837,000)	64,251,000
Income tax expense	1,120,000	1,225,000	1,890,000
Net earnings (loss)	5,589,000	(11,062,000)	62,361,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative expense	3,489	8,163	20,462
Net earnings (loss)	$ (3,489)	$ (8,163)	$ (20,462)