Segment Reporting Segment Reporting (Schedule of Capital Expenditure Information, by Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	$ 8,678	$ 24,501
Propane and related equipment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	7,245	14,513
Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	127	3,303
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	1,306	6,685
Maintenance Capital Expenditures [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	3,264	6,182
Maintenance Capital Expenditures [Member] | Propane and related equipment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	1,831	5,898
Maintenance Capital Expenditures [Member] | Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	127	0
Maintenance Capital Expenditures [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	1,306	284
Growth Capital Expenditures [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	5,414	18,319
Growth Capital Expenditures [Member] | Propane and related equipment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	5,414	8,615
Growth Capital Expenditures [Member] | Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	0	3,303
Growth Capital Expenditures [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	0	6,401
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	8,678	24,501
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Propane and related equipment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	7,245	14,513
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	127	3,303
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	1,306	6,685
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Maintenance Capital Expenditures [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	3,264	6,182
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Maintenance Capital Expenditures [Member] | Propane and related equipment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	1,831	5,898
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Maintenance Capital Expenditures [Member] | Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	127	0
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Maintenance Capital Expenditures [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	1,306	284
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Growth Capital Expenditures [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	5,414	18,319
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Growth Capital Expenditures [Member] | Propane and related equipment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	5,414	8,615
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Growth Capital Expenditures [Member] | Midstream - Crude Oil Logistics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	0	3,303
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Growth Capital Expenditures [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Capital Expenditures	$ 0	$ 6,401