Schedule I Parent Only Balance Sheets, Statements Of Earnings And Cash Flows (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ (56,249)	$ 6,691	$ 38,528	$ (43,471)	$ (668,142)	$ 18,918	$ 57,755	$ (80,566)	$ (59,333)	$ 36,220	$ 86,371	$ (33,169)	$ (54,501)	$ (672,035)	$ 30,089
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash used in operating activities:
Other													(7,933)	(4,967)	(3,361)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities													127,288	194,327	203,072
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired													(3,539)	(15,144)	(641,427)
Net cash used in investing activities													(45,538)	(115,859)	(708,017)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions													(79,733)	(204,160)	(167,105)
Cash paid for financing costs													(6,078)	(1,214)	(10,301)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt													230,864	168,117	628,134
Payments on long-term debt													(174,292)	(14,959)	(119,457)
Proceeds from equity offering, net of issuance costs													0	0	181,008
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock													(15,851)	(46,432)	0
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options													0	182	91
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities													(80,955)	(81,155)	504,310
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents													795	(2,687)	(637)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year				4,965				7,652				8,289	4,965	7,652	8,289
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	5,760				4,965				7,652				5,760	4,965	7,652
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)													(54,207)	(665,415)	29,620
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash used in operating activities:
Other													3,982	(1,743)	2,922
Equity in (earnings) loss of Ferrellgas, L.P.													(28,765)	(648,771)	45,958
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities													(21,460)	(18,387)	(13,416)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired													0	0	562,500
Distributions received from Ferrellgas, L.P.													118,829	266,818	601,736
Cash contributed to Ferrellgas, L.P.													166,148	0	42,224
Net cash used in investing activities													(47,319)	266,818	(2,988)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions													79,733	204,160	167,105
Cash paid for financing costs													3,653	0	0
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt													168,000
Proceeds from equity offering, net of issuance costs													0	0	181,008
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock													(15,851)	(46,432)	0
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options													0	182	91
Cash contribution from general partners in connection with common unit issuances													0	2	4,456
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities													68,763	(250,408)	18,450
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents													(16)	(1,977)	2,046
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year				$ 75				$ 2,052				$ 6	75	2,052	6
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	$ 59				$ 75				$ 2,052				$ 59	$ 75	$ 2,052