Partners' Capital (Ferrellgas Paid Cash Distributions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 14, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions				$ 79,733	$ 204,160	$ 167,105
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Declared		$ 15,900	$ 46,400
Public Common Unitholders [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions				56,561	145,666	111,163
Ferrell Companies [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions				18,305	46,184	45,059
FCI Trading Corp. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions				160	400	392
Ferrell Propane, Inc. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions				41	104	104
James E. Ferrell [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions				3,869	9,764	8,717
General Partner [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions				797	2,042	1,670
General Partner [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions				1,050	2,246	1,864
Ferrellgas Partners [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions				$ 102,978	220,058	$ 182,803
Subsequent Event [Member] | Ferrell Companies [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Declared	$ 2,253
Subsequent Event [Member] | FCI Trading Corp. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Declared	20
Subsequent Event [Member] | Ferrell Propane, Inc. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Declared	5
Subsequent Event [Member] | James E. Ferrell [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Declared	476
Subsequent Event [Member] | General Partner [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Declared	$ 98
Subsequent Event [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Declared					100
Subsequent Event [Member] | Ferrellgas Partners [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Declared					$ 9,800