Supplemental Financial Statement Information (Property, Plant And Equipment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 1,207,268	$ 1,223,728
Less: accumulated depreciation	617,541	597,177
Property, plant and equipment, net	589,727	626,551
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	1,207,268	1,223,728
Less: accumulated depreciation	617,541	597,177
Property, plant and equipment, net	589,727	626,551
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	Indefinite
Property, plant and equipment, gross	30,978	31,229
Land [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	Indefinite
Property, plant and equipment, gross	30,978	31,229
Land Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,021	11,418
Land Improvements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,021	11,418
Buildings And Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Property, plant and equipment, gross	67,050	67,027
Buildings And Improvements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Property, plant and equipment, gross	67,050	67,027
Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	101,224	102,374
Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	101,224	102,374
Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	107,835	109,050
Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	107,835	109,050
Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	767,365	782,293
Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	767,365	782,293
Computer And Office Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	117,718	116,916
Computer And Office Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	117,718	116,916
Construction In Progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	3,077	3,421
Construction In Progress [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 3,077	$ 3,421
Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Land Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Land Improvements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	8 years
Minimum [Member] | Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	8 years
Minimum [Member] | Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Computer And Office Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Computer And Office Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	2 years
Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Land Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Land Improvements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Vehicles, Including Transport Trailers [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Bulk Equipment And District Facilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Tanks, Cylinders And Customer Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Computer And Office Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Computer And Office Equipment [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years