Debt (Components Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (Imported) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Total long-term debt	$ 1,061,606,000	$ 1,053,477,000
Less: current portion, included in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets	2,521,000	2,557,000
Long-term debt	1,059,085,000	1,050,920,000
Debt instrument, fixed interest rate	9.125%
Short-term borrowings	95,730,000	64,927,000
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Total long-term debt	879,606,000	871,477,000
Less: current portion, included in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets	2,521,000	2,557,000
Long-term debt	877,085,000	868,920,000
Short-term borrowings	95,730,000	64,927,000
Fixed Rate, 6.50%, Due 2021 [Member]
Senior notes	500,000,000	500,000,000
Debt instrument, fixed interest rate	6.50%
Debt instrument, maturity year	2021
Fixed Rate, 6.50%, Due 2021 [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Senior notes	500,000,000	500,000,000
Debt instrument, fixed interest rate	6.50%
Debt instrument, maturity year	2021
Fixed Rate, 9.125%, Due 2017 [Member]
Senior notes	296,964,000	296,528,000
Debt instrument, fixed interest rate	9.125%
Debt instrument, maturity year	2017
Unamortized discount	3,036,000	3,472,000
Fixed Rate, 9.125%, Due 2017 [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Senior notes	296,964,000	296,528,000
Debt instrument, maturity year	2017
Unamortized discount	3,036,000	3,472,000
Fixed Rate, 8.625%, Due 2020 [Member]
Senior notes	182,000,000	182,000,000
Debt instrument, fixed interest rate	8.625%
Debt instrument, maturity year	2020
Notes Payable [Member]
Notes payable	10,588,000	10,376,000
Unamortized discount	2,727,000	2,805,000
Weighted average interest rate of debt	9.10%	9.20%
Long-term debt, Notes payable due start	2012
Long-term debt, Notes payable due end	2020
Notes Payable [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Notes payable	10,588,000	10,376,000
Unamortized discount	2,727,000	2,805,000
Weighted average interest rate of debt	9.10%	9.20%
Long-term debt, Notes payable due start	2012
Long-term debt, Notes payable due end	2020
Secured Credit Facility [Member]
Line of credit facility	64,270,000	64,573,000
Debt instrument, maturity date	September 2016
Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Line of credit facility	64,270,000	64,573,000
Debt instrument, maturity date	September 2016
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Senior notes	7,784,000
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Senior notes	$ 7,784,000