Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ (17,796,000)	$ (32,895,000)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	20,875,000	20,674,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	2,402,000	2,579,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	3,092,000	2,917,000
Loss on disposal of assets	271,000	309,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,008,000	1,952,000
Deferred tax expense	379,000	164,000
Other	997,000	581,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(24,696,000)	(48,026,000)
Inventories	(9,215,000)	(48,391,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(4,532,000)	(12,197,000)
Accounts payable	20,047,000	48,048,000
Accrued interest expense	5,139,000	5,181,000
Other current liabilities	11,420,000	26,339,000
Other liabilities	442,000	38,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	9,833,000	(32,727,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(4,300,000)	(5,300,000)
Capital expenditures	(9,909,000)	(14,924,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	4,771,000	1,363,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(9,438,000)	(18,861,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(39,907,000)	(38,367,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	11,333,000	18,656,000
Payments on long-term debt	(1,439,000)	(1,259,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	22,167,000	61,144,000
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	8,000,000	20,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	0	(2,500,000)
Noncontrolling interest activity	(407,000)	(391,000)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	105,000	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(148,000)	57,283,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,000	2,000
Change in cash	249,000	5,697,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	8,429,000	7,437,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	8,678,000	13,134,000
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	0	(50)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	(50)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution	0	50
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	50
Change in cash	0	0
Cash - beginning of year	969	969
Cash - end of year	969	969
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(13,692,000)	(28,802,000)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	20,875,000	20,674,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	2,402,000	2,579,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	3,092,000	2,917,000
Loss on disposal of assets	271,000	309,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,008,000	1,952,000
Deferred tax expense	379,000	164,000
Other	879,000	480,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(24,696,000)	(48,026,000)
Inventories	(9,215,000)	(48,391,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(4,532,000)	(12,202,000)
Accounts payable	20,047,000	48,048,000
Accrued interest expense	1,215,000	1,256,000
Other current liabilities	11,358,000	26,318,000
Other liabilities	442,000	38,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	9,833,000	(32,686,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(4,300,000)	(5,300,000)
Capital expenditures	(9,909,000)	(14,924,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	4,771,000	1,363,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(9,438,000)	(18,861,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(40,314,000)	(38,758,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	11,333,000	18,656,000
Payments on long-term debt	(1,439,000)	(1,259,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	22,167,000	61,144,000
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	8,000,000	20,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	0	(2,500,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(253,000)	57,283,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,000	2,000
Change in cash	144,000	5,738,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	8,218,000	7,342,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	8,362,000	13,080,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(1,500)	(1,500)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(1,500)	(1,500)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution	1,500	1,500
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,500	1,500
Change in cash	0	0
Cash - beginning of year	1,100	1,100
Cash - end of year	$ 1,100	$ 1,100