Supplemental Financial Statement Information (Property, Plant And Equipment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 1,223,728	$ 1,215,870
Less: accumulated depreciation	597,177	573,665
Property, plant and equipment, net	626,551	642,205
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	1,223,728	1,215,870
Less: accumulated depreciation	597,177	573,665
Property, plant and equipment, net	626,551	642,205
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	Indefinite
Property, plant and equipment, gross	31,229	30,920
Land [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	Indefinite
Property, plant and equipment, gross	31,229	30,920
Land Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	11,418	11,200
Land Improvements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	11,418	11,200
Buildings And Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Property, plant and equipment, gross	67,027	66,043
Buildings And Improvements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Property, plant and equipment, gross	67,027	66,043
Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	102,374	104,188
Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	102,374	104,188
Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	109,050	105,485
Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	109,050	105,485
Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	782,293	778,599
Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	782,293	778,599
Computer And Office Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	116,916	116,281
Computer And Office Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	116,916	116,281
Construction In Progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	3,421	3,154
Construction In Progress [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 3,421	$ 3,154
Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Land Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Land Improvements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	8 years
Minimum [Member] | Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	8 years
Minimum [Member] | Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Computer And Office Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Computer And Office Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Land Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Land Improvements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Computer And Office Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Computer And Office Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years