Business Combinations (Aggregate Fair Value) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Working capital	$ 7,302	$ 0	$ 0
Customer tanks, buildings, land and other	5,155	7,454	7,746
Goodwill acquisitions	4,640	0	5
Trade names & trademarks	3,291
Aggregate fair value of transactions	39,221	14,034	12,586
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Working capital	7,302	0	0
Customer tanks, buildings, land and other	5,155	7,454	7,746
Goodwill acquisitions	4,640	0	5
Trade names & trademarks	3,291
Aggregate fair value of transactions	39,221	14,034	12,586
Customer Lists [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	12,211	5,574	3,151
Customer Lists [Member] \| Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	12,211	5,574	3,151
Non-Compete Agreements [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	944	1,006	1,684
Non-Compete Agreements [Member] \| Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	944	1,006	1,684
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	5,678	0	0
Other Intangible Assets [Member] \| Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	$ 5,678	$ 0	$ 0

Amount of assets that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

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- Definition

The amount of property, plant, and equipment recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910749&loc=d3e4845-128472

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 37

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25498275&loc=d3e2207-128464

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- Definition

Amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the assets, including goodwill, in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed, less the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets, lacking physical substance with a definite life, resulting from a business combination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

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- Definition

Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with an indefinite life, resulting from a business combination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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