Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ 41,047,000	$ 3,892,000
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	41,626,000	41,716,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	9,849,000	4,516,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	6,212,000	4,482,000
Loss on disposal of assets and other	2,391,000	832,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,515,000	3,461,000
Deferred tax expense	391,000	292,000
Other	1,911,000	1,155,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(117,208,000)	(136,899,000)
Inventories	(2,390,000)	(34,340,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,489,000)	(9,022,000)
Accounts payable	55,190,000	64,712,000
Accrued interest expense	(116,000)	2,000
Other current liabilities	8,473,000	10,882,000
Other liabilities	534,000	295,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	48,936,000	(44,024,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(6,488,000)	(10,327,000)
Capital expenditures	(21,964,000)	(24,453,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	6,163,000	2,374,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(22,289,000)	(32,406,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Distributions	(79,814,000)	(76,738,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	22,552,000	31,490,000
Payments on long-term debt	(1,868,000)	(52,220,000)
Net additions to short-term borrowings	(23,052,000)	(8,890,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	60,000,000	144,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	0	(3,315,000)
Noncontrolling interest activity	(894,000)	(352,000)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	105,000	239,000
Proceeds from equity offering, net of issuance costs	0	50,000,000
Contributions from partners	1,000	504,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(22,970,000)	84,718,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	3,000	0
Change in cash and cash equivalents	3,680,000	8,288,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	8,429,000	7,437,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	12,109,000	15,725,000
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(215)	(175)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(215)	(175)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Capital contribution	215	175
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	215	175
Change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash - beginning of year	969	969
Cash - end of year	969	969
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	49,261,000	12,082,000
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	41,626,000	41,716,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	9,849,000	4,516,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	6,212,000	4,482,000
Loss on disposal of assets and other	2,391,000	832,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,515,000	3,461,000
Deferred tax expense	391,000	292,000
Other	1,700,000	950,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(117,208,000)	(136,899,000)
Inventories	(2,390,000)	(34,340,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,493,000)	(9,008,000)
Accounts payable	55,190,000	64,712,000
Accrued interest expense	(116,000)	1,000
Other current liabilities	8,348,000	10,793,000
Other liabilities	534,000	295,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	56,810,000	(36,115,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(6,488,000)	(10,340,000)
Capital expenditures	(21,964,000)	(24,453,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	6,163,000	2,374,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(22,289,000)	(32,419,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Distributions	(88,557,000)	(85,450,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	22,552,000	31,490,000
Payments on long-term debt	(1,868,000)	(52,220,000)
Net additions to short-term borrowings	(23,052,000)	(8,890,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	60,000,000	144,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	0	(3,315,000)
Contributions from partners	0	50,510,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(30,925,000)	76,125,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	3,000	0
Change in cash and cash equivalents	3,599,000	7,591,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	8,218,000	7,342,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	11,817,000	14,933,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(4,675)	(3,165)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(4,675)	(3,165)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Capital contribution	4,675	3,165
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	4,675	3,165
Change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash - beginning of year	1,100	1,100
Cash - end of year	$ 1,100	$ 1,100