Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ (43,471,000)	$ (80,566,000)
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	26,202,000	36,979,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	3,754,000	5,256,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	1,881,000	8,122,000
Goodwill impairment	0	29,316,000
Loss on Disposal of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges	6,423,000	14,917,000
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	(100,000)
Provision for doubtful accounts	9,000	952,000
Deferred tax expense	143,000	280,000
Other	1,302,000	1,409,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	1,310,000	9,484,000
Inventories	(9,702,000)	675,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,032,000	5,997,000
Accounts payable	7,049,000	(20,139,000)
Accrued interest expense	28,495,000	28,600,000
Other current liabilities	21,251,000	(3,468,000)
Other assets and liabilities	1,872,000	3,134,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	54,550,000	40,848,000
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(10,005,000)	(25,607,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	2,279,000	3,575,000
Other	0	(14,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(7,726,000)	(22,046,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Distributions	(50,294,000)	(51,963,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	25,626,000	21,321,000
Payments on long-term debt	(2,261,000)	(4,380,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	(4,467,000)	20,072,000
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	10,000,000	(2,000,000)
Cash paid for financing costs	(1,390,000)	(142,000)
Proceeds from (Payments to) Noncontrolling Interests	(513,000)	(500,000)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(15,851,000)	0
Contributions from partners	0	30,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(39,150,000)	(17,562,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	7,674,000	1,240,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	4,965,000	7,652,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	12,639,000	8,892,000
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(92)	(50)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(92)	(50)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Capital contribution	92	50
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	92	50
Net change in cash	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	1,000	1,000
Cash - end of period	1,000	1,000
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(39,440,000)	(76,536,000)
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	26,202,000	36,979,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	3,754,000	5,256,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	1,881,000	8,122,000
Goodwill impairment	0	29,316,000
Loss on Disposal of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges	6,423,000	14,917,000
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	(100,000)
Provision for doubtful accounts	9,000	952,000
Deferred tax expense	143,000	280,000
Other	1,197,000	1,304,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	1,310,000	9,200,000
Inventories	(9,702,000)	675,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,031,000	6,114,000
Accounts payable	7,049,000	(20,139,000)
Accrued interest expense	24,571,000	24,676,000
Other current liabilities	21,251,000	(1,504,000)
Other assets and liabilities	1,872,000	3,134,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	54,551,000	42,646,000
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		0
Capital expenditures	(10,005,000)	(25,607,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	2,279,000	3,575,000
Other	0	(14,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(7,726,000)	(22,046,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Distributions	(66,658,000)	(52,493,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	25,626,000	21,321,000
Payments on long-term debt	(2,261,000)	(4,380,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	(4,467,000)	20,072,000
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	10,000,000	(2,000,000)
Cash paid for financing costs	(1,390,000)	(142,000)
Contributions from partners	0	30,000
Capital contribution		30,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(39,150,000)	(17,592,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	7,675,000	3,008,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	4,890,000	5,600,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	12,565,000	8,608,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(1,550)	(3,050)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,500)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(50)	(3,050)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Capital contribution	50	3,050
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	50	3,050
Net change in cash	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	1,100	1,100
Cash - end of period	$ 1,100	$ 1,100