Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Fair Value of Financial Derivatives Balance Sheet Locations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative assets	$ 6,672	$ 8,241
Interest rate swap assets	4,133	5,830
Derivative assets, fair value	10,805	14,071
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	6,482	17,689
Interest rate swap liabilities	2,645	3,553
Derivative liabilities, fair value	9,127	21,242
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative assets	6,672	8,241
Interest rate swap assets	4,133	5,830
Derivative assets, fair value	10,805	14,071
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	6,482	17,689
Interest rate swap liabilities	2,645	3,553
Derivative liabilities, fair value	9,127	21,242
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative assets	2,458	2,263
Interest rate swap assets	1,467	1,654
Other Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments at Fair Value, Net	0	0
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative assets	2,458	2,263
Interest rate swap assets	1,467	1,654
Other Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments at Fair Value, Net	0	0
Other assets, net [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative assets	3,738	3,056
Interest rate swap assets	2,666	4,176
Other assets, net [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative assets	3,738	3,056
Interest rate swap assets	2,666	4,176
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	3,820	10,184
Interest rate swap liabilities	1,919	2,309
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	2,119	3,996
Other Current Liabilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	3,820	10,184
Interest rate swap liabilities	1,919	2,309
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	2,119	3,996
Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	370	1,597
Interest rate swap liabilities	726	1,244
Other Liabilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	370	1,597
Interest rate swap liabilities	726	1,244
Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member] | Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Other Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments at Fair Value, Net	476	2,922
Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member] | Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Other Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments at Fair Value, Net	476	2,922
Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	173	1,912
Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	$ 173	$ 1,912