Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ (10,896,000)	$ (43,760,000)	$ 33,339,000
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	83,841,000	82,486,000	82,491,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	9,440,000	10,157,000	9,322,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	8,843,000	13,488,000	7,831,000
Loss on disposal of assets	6,035,000	3,633,000	7,296,000
Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization			6,566,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt		27,463,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,822,000	6,212,000	8,440,000
Deferred tax expense	913,000	751,000	439,000
Other	2,327,000	4,362,000	2,196,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	30,497,000	(28,732,000)	2,529,000
Inventories	8,541,000	30,772,000	(37,103,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(8,507,000)	(4,325,000)	(676,000)
Accounts payable	(19,143,000)	18,613,000	(263,000)
Accrued interest expense	166,000	(633,000)	693,000
Other current liabilities	7,969,000	(3,365,000)	(14,000)
Other liabilities	(445,000)	439,000	1,544,000
Accounts receivable securitization:
Proceeds from new accounts receivable securitizations			124,000,000
Proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving period accounts receivable securitizations			1,334,144,000
Remittances of amounts collected as servicer of accounts receivable securitizations			(1,448,144,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	124,403,000	117,561,000	134,630,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(10,387,000)	(7,298,000)	(40,883,000)
Capital expenditures	(49,303,000)	(49,759,000)	(45,185,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	5,742,000	5,994,000	9,220,000
Other	0	0	(4,480,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(53,948,000)	(51,063,000)	(81,328,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(156,520,000)	(145,002,000)	(139,763,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	49,697,000	564,807,000	936,861,000
Payments on long-term debt	(52,885,000)	(650,285,000)	(844,955,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	30,803,000	(2,276,000)	1,044,000
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	13,000,000	14,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	(3,607,000)	(9,886,000)	(22,073,000)
Noncontrolling interest activity	(1,239,000)	(1,172,000)	(1,435,000)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	891,000	544,000	1,189,000
Proceeds from equity offering, net of issuance costs	49,938,000	157,212,000	19,949,000
Contributions from partners in connection with common unit issuances	511,000	1,594,000	214,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(69,411,000)	(70,464,000)	(48,969,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(52,000)	2,000	2,000
Change in cash	992,000	(3,964,000)	4,335,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	7,437,000	11,401,000	7,066,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	8,429,000	7,437,000	11,401,000
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(1,999)	(2,789)	(568)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred tax expense	0	0	0
Accounts receivable securitization:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(1,999)	(2,789)	(568)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution	1,999	2,789	537
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,999	2,789	537
Change in cash			(31)
Cash - beginning of year	969	969	1,000
Cash - end of year	969	969	969
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	5,589,000	(11,062,000)	62,361,000
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	83,841,000	82,486,000	82,491,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	9,440,000	10,157,000	9,322,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	8,843,000	13,488,000	7,831,000
Loss on disposal of assets	6,035,000	3,633,000	7,296,000
Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization			6,566,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt		25,403,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,822,000	6,212,000	8,440,000
Deferred tax expense	913,000	751,000	439,000
Other	1,902,000	3,755,000	1,417,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	30,497,000	(28,732,000)	2,529,000
Inventories	8,541,000	30,772,000	(37,103,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(8,485,000)	(4,317,000)	(831,000)
Accounts payable	(19,143,000)	18,613,000	(263,000)
Accrued interest expense	165,000	449,000	601,000
Other current liabilities	7,988,000	(3,268,000)	(139,000)
Other liabilities	(445,000)	439,000	1,544,000
Accounts receivable securitization:
Proceeds from new accounts receivable securitizations			124,000,000
Proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving period accounts receivable securitizations			1,334,144,000
Remittances of amounts collected as servicer of accounts receivable securitizations			(1,448,144,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	140,503,000	148,779,000	162,501,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(10,400,000)	(7,327,000)	(40,914,000)
Capital expenditures	(49,303,000)	(49,759,000)	(45,185,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	5,742,000	5,994,000	9,220,000
Other	0	0	(4,480,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(53,961,000)	(51,092,000)	(81,359,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(173,975,000)	(275,560,000)	(193,780,000)
Capital contribution	51,218,000	159,291,000	51,823,000
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	49,697,000	564,807,000	656,861,000
Payments on long-term debt	(52,885,000)	(552,285,000)	(576,955,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	30,803,000	(2,276,000)	1,044,000
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	13,000,000	14,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	(3,472,000)	(9,713,000)	(15,798,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(85,614,000)	(101,736,000)	(76,805,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(52,000)	2,000	2,000
Change in cash	876,000	(4,047,000)	4,339,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	7,342,000	11,389,000	7,050,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	8,218,000	7,342,000	11,389,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(3,489)	(8,163)	(20,462)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred tax expense	0	0	0
Accounts receivable securitization:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(3,489)	(8,163)	(20,462)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution	3,489	8,163	20,462
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	3,489	8,163	20,462
Change in cash	0	0	0
Cash - beginning of year	1,100	1,100	1,100
Cash - end of year	$ 1,100	$ 1,100	$ 1,100