Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ 57,167,000	$ (10,896,000)	$ (43,760,000)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	83,344,000	83,841,000	82,486,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	15,769,000	9,440,000	10,157,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	13,545,000	8,843,000	13,488,000
Loss on disposal of assets	10,421,000	6,035,000	3,633,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt			27,463,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,066,000	4,822,000	6,212,000
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	133,000	913,000	751,000
Other	4,520,000	2,327,000	4,362,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(5,901,000)	30,497,000	(28,732,000)
Inventories	15,869,000	8,541,000	30,772,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	6,157,000	(8,507,000)	(4,325,000)
Accounts payable	508,000	(19,143,000)	18,613,000
Accrued interest expense	(150,000)	166,000	(633,000)
Other current liabilities	6,369,000	7,969,000	(3,365,000)
Other liabilities	303,000	(445,000)	439,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	210,120,000	124,403,000	117,561,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(37,186,000)	(10,387,000)	(7,298,000)
Capital expenditures	(40,910,000)	(49,303,000)	(49,759,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	9,980,000	5,742,000	5,994,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(68,116,000)	(53,948,000)	(51,063,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(159,682,000)	(156,520,000)	(145,002,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	58,356,000	49,697,000	564,807,000
Payments on long-term debt	(3,912,000)	(52,885,000)	(650,285,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	(45,676,000)	30,803,000	(2,276,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	8,000,000	13,000,000	14,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	0	(3,607,000)	(9,886,000)
Noncontrolling interest activity	(1,781,000)	(1,239,000)	(1,172,000)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	864,000	891,000	544,000
Proceeds from equity offering, net of issuance costs		49,938,000	157,212,000
Contributions from partners in connection with common unit issuances	9,000	511,000	1,594,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(143,822,000)	(69,411,000)	(70,464,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(147,000)	(52,000)	2,000
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1,965,000)	992,000	(3,964,000)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	8,429,000	7,437,000	11,401,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	6,464,000	8,429,000	7,437,000
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(2,038)	(1,999)	(2,789)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(2,038)	(1,999)	(2,789)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution	2,038	1,999	2,789
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	2,038	1,999	2,789
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash - beginning of year	969	969	969
Cash - end of year	969	969	969
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	73,375,000	5,589,000	(11,062,000)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	83,344,000	83,841,000	82,486,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	15,769,000	9,440,000	10,157,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	13,545,000	8,843,000	13,488,000
Loss on disposal of assets	10,421,000	6,035,000	3,633,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt			25,403,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,066,000	4,822,000	6,212,000
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	133,000	913,000	751,000
Other	4,067,000	1,902,000	3,755,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(5,901,000)	30,497,000	(28,732,000)
Inventories	15,869,000	8,541,000	30,772,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	6,143,000	(8,485,000)	(4,317,000)
Accounts payable	508,000	(19,143,000)	18,613,000
Accrued interest expense	(151,000)	165,000	449,000
Other current liabilities	6,454,000	7,988,000	(3,268,000)
Other liabilities	303,000	(445,000)	439,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	225,945,000	140,503,000	148,779,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(37,186,000)	(10,400,000)	(7,327,000)
Capital expenditures	(40,910,000)	(49,303,000)	(49,759,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	9,980,000	5,742,000	5,994,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(68,116,000)	(53,961,000)	(51,092,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(177,170,000)	(173,975,000)	(275,560,000)
Capital contribution	809,000	51,218,000	159,291,000
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	58,356,000	49,697,000	564,807,000
Payments on long-term debt	(3,912,000)	(52,885,000)	(552,285,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	(45,676,000)	30,803,000	(2,276,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	8,000,000	13,000,000	14,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	0	(3,472,000)	(9,713,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(159,593,000)	(85,614,000)	(101,736,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(147,000)	(52,000)	2,000
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1,911,000)	876,000	(4,047,000)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	8,218,000	7,342,000	11,389,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	6,307,000	8,218,000	7,342,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(4,999)	(3,489)	(8,163)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(4,999)	(3,489)	(8,163)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution	4,999	3,489	8,163
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	4,999	3,489	8,163
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash - beginning of year	1,100	1,100	1,100
Cash - end of year	$ 1,100	$ 1,100	$ 1,100