Debt (Interest Rate Swaps Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013
Secured credit facility and collateralized note payables [Member]
Interest rate derivative inception date	May 2012
Derivative, Description of Hedged Item	forecasted interest payments on the operating partnership’s secured credit facility and collateralized note payable borrowings
Secured credit facility and collateralized note payables [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Interest rate derivative inception date	May 2012
Derivative, Description of Hedged Item	forecasted interest payments on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s secured credit facility and collateralized note payable
Fixed Rate, 6.50%, Due 2021 [Member]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 140,000,000.0
Derivative, Description of Hedged Item	$500.0 million 6.5% fixed rate senior notes due 2021
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	6.50%
Derivative, Description of Variable Rate Basis	one-month LIBOR
Interest rate plus one-month LIBOR	4.715%
Derivative, Inception Date	May 07, 2012
Fixed Rate, 6.50%, Due 2021 [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivative, Notional Amount	140,000,000.0
Derivative, Description of Hedged Item	$500.0 million 6.5% fixed rate senior notes due 2021
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	6.50%
Derivative, Description of Variable Rate Basis	one-month LIBOR
Interest rate plus one-month LIBOR	4.715%
Derivative, Inception Date	May 07, 2012
Fixed Rate, 9.125%, Due 2017 [Member]
Derivative, Notional Amount	140,000,000.0
Derivative, Description of Hedged Item	$300.0 million 9.125% fixed rate senior notes due 2017
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	9.125%
Derivative, Description of Variable Rate Basis	one-month LIBOR
Interest rate plus one-month LIBOR	7.96%
Derivative, Inception Date	May 07, 2012
Fixed Rate, 9.125%, Due 2017 [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivative, Notional Amount	140,000,000.0
Derivative, Description of Hedged Item	$300.0 million 9.125% fixed rate senior notes due 2017
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	9.125%
Derivative, Description of Variable Rate Basis	one-month LIBOR
Interest rate plus one-month LIBOR	7.96%
Derivative, Inception Date	May 07, 2012
Interest rate cash flow hedge leg 1 [member] | Secured credit facility and collateralized note payables [Member]
Derivative, Notional Amount	175,000,000.0
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	1.95%
Derivative, Description of Variable Rate Basis	one-month LIBOR
Interest rate derivative settlement start date	August 2015
Interest rate derivative settlement end date	July 2017
Interest rate cash flow hedge leg 1 [member] | Secured credit facility and collateralized note payables [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivative, Notional Amount	175,000,000.0
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	1.95%
Derivative, Description of Variable Rate Basis	one-month LIBOR
Interest rate derivative settlement start date	August 2015
Interest rate derivative settlement end date	July 2017
Interest rate cash flow hedge leg 2 [Member] | Secured credit facility and collateralized note payables [Member]
Derivative, Notional Amount	100,000,000.0
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	1.95%
Derivative, Description of Variable Rate Basis	one-month LIBOR
Interest rate derivative settlement start date	August 2017
Interest rate derivative settlement end date	July 2018
Interest rate cash flow hedge leg 2 [Member] | Secured credit facility and collateralized note payables [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 100,000,000.0
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	1.95%
Derivative, Description of Variable Rate Basis	one-month LIBOR
Interest rate derivative settlement start date	August 2017
Interest rate derivative settlement end date	July 2018