Schedule I Parent Only Balance Sheets, Statements Of Earnings And Cash Flows (Cash Flows) (Details) (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:
Other	(4,520,000)	(2,327,000)	(4,362,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	210,120,000	124,403,000	117,561,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
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)
Cash paid for financing costs	0	(3,607,000)	(9,886,000)
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)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	864,000	891,000	544,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(143,822,000)	(69,411,000)	(70,464,000)
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
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	56,426,000	(10,952,000)	(43,648,000)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Other	383,000	398,000	1,509,000
Equity in (earnings) loss of Ferrellgas, L.P.	(72,634,000)	(5,533,000)	10,950,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(15,825,000)	(16,087,000)	(31,189,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Distributions received from Ferrellgas, L.P.	175,380,000	172,218,000	272,777,000
Cash contributed to Ferrellgas, L.P.	(800,000)	(50,700,000)	(157,680,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	174,580,000	121,518,000	115,097,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(159,682,000)	(156,520,000)	(145,002,000)
Cash paid for financing costs	0	(135,000)	(173,000)
Payments on long-term debt	0	0	(98,000,000)
Issuance of common units (net of issuance costs of $0, $62, and $300 for the years ended July 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively	0	49,938,000	157,212,000
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	864,000	891,000	544,000
Other	9,000	511,000	1,594,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(158,809,000)	(105,315,000)	(83,825,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(54,000)	116,000	83,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	211,000	95,000	12,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	$ 157,000	$ 211,000	$ 95,000