Goodwill And Intangible Assets, Net (Goodwill And Intangible Assets, Net) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	$ 248,944	$ 248,944
Goodwill, Net	248,944	248,944
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Gross carrying amount	454,946	448,366
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Accumulated amortization	(324,893)	(303,360)
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Net	130,053	145,006
Intangible assets gross excluding goodwill	514,011	507,496
Intangible assets amortization and impairment net excluding goodwill	(324,893)	(303,360)
Intangible assets net excluding goodwill	189,118	204,136
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	248,944	248,944
Goodwill, Net	248,944	248,944
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Gross carrying amount	454,946	448,366
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Accumulated amortization	(324,893)	(303,360)
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Net	130,053	145,006
Intangible assets gross excluding goodwill	514,011	507,496
Intangible assets amortization and impairment net excluding goodwill	324,893	303,360
Intangible assets net excluding goodwill	189,118	204,136
Trade Names And Trademarks [Member]
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount - unamortized	59,065	59,130
Unamortized, Net	59,065	59,130
Trade Names And Trademarks [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount - unamortized	59,065	59,130
Unamortized, Net	59,065	59,130
Customer Lists [Member]
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Gross carrying amount	404,409	398,835
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Accumulated amortization	(282,848)	(263,631)
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Net	121,561	135,204
Customer Lists [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Gross carrying amount	404,409	398,835
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Accumulated amortization	(282,848)	(263,631)
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Net	121,561	135,204
Non-Compete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Gross carrying amount	47,030	46,024
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Accumulated amortization	(39,153)	(37,189)
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Net	7,877	8,835
Non-Compete Agreements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Gross carrying amount	47,030	46,024
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Accumulated amortization	(39,153)	(37,189)
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Net	7,877	8,835
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Gross carrying amount	3,507	3,507
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Accumulated amortization	(2,892)	(2,540)
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Net	615	967
Other Intangible Assets [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Gross carrying amount	3,507	3,507
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Accumulated amortization	(2,892)	(2,540)
Amortizable Intangible Assets, Net	$ 615	$ 967