Business Combinations (Aggregate Fair Value) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Customer tanks, buildings, land and other	$ 7,454	$ 7,746	$ 14,707
Goodwill		5
Aggregate value of assets acquired	14,034	12,586	45,114
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Customer tanks, buildings, land and other	7,454	7,746	14,707
Goodwill		5
Aggregate value of assets acquired	14,034	12,586	45,114
Non-Compete Agreements [Member]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets Other than Goodwill	1,006	1,684	3,271
Non-Compete Agreements [Member] \| Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets Other than Goodwill	1,006	1,684	3,271
Customer Lists [Member]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets Other than Goodwill	5,574	3,151	27,136
Customer Lists [Member] \| Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets Other than Goodwill	$ 5,574	$ 3,151	$ 27,136

The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of goodwill arising from a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 52

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 53

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

Amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to tangible assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant