Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Fair Value of Financial Derivatives Balance Sheet Locations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative assets	$ 17,200	$ 8,241
Interest rate swap assets	1,038	5,830
Derivative assets, fair value	18,238	14,071
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	1,689	17,689
Interest rate swap liabilities	1,918	3,553
Derivative liabilities, fair value	3,607	21,242
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative assets	17,200	8,241
Interest rate swap assets	1,038	5,830
Derivative assets, fair value	18,238	14,071
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	1,689	17,689
Interest rate swap liabilities	1,918	3,553
Derivative liabilities, fair value	3,607	21,242
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative assets	10,293	2,263
Interest rate swap assets	1,038	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	10,293	2,263
Interest rate swap assets	1,038	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	6,647	3,056
Interest rate swap assets	0	4,176
Other assets, net [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative assets	6,647	3,056
Interest rate swap assets	0	4,176
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	306	10,184
Interest rate swap liabilities	1,273	2,309
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	985	3,996
Other Current Liabilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	306	10,184
Interest rate swap liabilities	1,273	2,309
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	985	3,996
Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	0	1,597
Interest rate swap liabilities	645	1,244
Other Liabilities [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Propane commodity derivative liabilities	0	1,597
Interest rate swap liabilities	645	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	260	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	260	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	398	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	$ 398	$ 1,912