Schedule I Parent Only Balance Sheets, Statements Of Earnings And Cash Flows (Cash Flows) (Details) (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:
Other	2,327,000	4,362,000	2,196,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	124,403,000	117,561,000	134,630,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash used in investing activities	(53,948,000)	(51,063,000)	(81,328,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions		(147,785,000)	(141,721,000)
Cash paid for financing costs	(3,607,000)	(9,886,000)	(22,073,000)
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)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	891,000	544,000	1,189,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(69,411,000)	(70,464,000)	(48,969,000)
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
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(10,952,000)	(43,648,000)	32,709,000
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Other	398,000	1,509,000	1,182,000
Equity in (earnings) loss of Ferrellgas, L.P.	(5,533,000)	10,950,000	(61,731,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(16,087,000)	(31,189,000)	(27,840,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Distributions received from Ferrellgas, L.P.	172,218,000	272,777,000	191,822,000
Cash contributed to Ferrellgas, L.P.	(50,700,000)	(157,680,000)	(51,300,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	121,518,000	115,097,000	140,522,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(156,520,000)	(145,002,000)	(139,763,000)
Cash paid for financing costs	(135,000)	(173,000)	(6,275,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt			280,000,000
Payments on long-term debt		(98,000,000)	(268,000,000)
Issuance of common units (net of issuance costs of $62, $300, and $18 for the years ended July 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	49,938,000	157,212,000	19,949,000
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	891,000	544,000	1,189,000
Other	511,000	1,594,000	214,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(105,315,000)	(83,825,000)	(112,686,000)
Change in cash	116,000	83,000	(4,000)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	95,000	12,000	16,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	$ 211,000	$ 95,000	$ 12,000