Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2009
Revenues:
Propane and other gas liquids sales	$ 2,212,257,000	$ 1,900,318,000	$ 1,829,653,000
Other	210,958,000	198,742,000	239,869,000
Total revenues	2,423,215,000	2,099,060,000	2,069,522,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales	1,609,344,000	1,257,534,000	1,207,368,000
Cost of product sold - other	124,470,000	108,638,000	152,853,000
Operating expense	411,038,000	409,014,000	400,735,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	82,486,000	82,491,000	82,494,000
General and administrative expense	61,891,000	51,772,000	41,382,000
Equipment lease expense	14,435,000	13,441,000	18,406,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	10,157,000	9,322,000	6,755,000
Loss on disposal of assets and other	3,633,000	8,485,000	13,042,000
Operating income (loss)	105,761,000	158,363,000	146,487,000
Interest expense	(101,885,000)	(101,284,000)	(89,519,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(46,962,000)	(20,716,000)
Other income (expense), net	567,000	(1,108,000)	(1,321,000)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(42,519,000)	35,255,000	55,647,000
Income tax expense	1,241,000	1,916,000	2,292,000
Net earnings (loss)	(43,760,000)	33,339,000	53,355,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(112,000)	630,000	783,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.	(43,648,000)	32,709,000	52,572,000
Less: General partner's interest in net earnings (loss)	(436,000)	327,000	526,000
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings (loss)	(43,212,000)	32,382,000	52,046,000
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unitholders' interest	$ (0.60)	$ 0.47	$ 0.79
Cash distributions declared per common unit	$ 2	$ 2	$ 2
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative expense	2,789	568	445
Net earnings (loss)	(2,789)	(568)	(445)
Ferrellgas, L.P. And Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Propane and other gas liquids sales	2,212,257,000	1,900,318,000	1,829,653,000
Other	210,958,000	198,742,000	239,869,000
Total revenues	2,423,215,000	2,099,060,000	2,069,522,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales	1,609,344,000	1,257,534,000	1,207,368,000
Cost of product sold - other	124,470,000	108,638,000	152,853,000
Operating expense	410,680,000	408,590,000	400,407,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	82,486,000	82,491,000	82,494,000
General and administrative expense	61,891,000	51,772,000	41,382,000
Equipment lease expense	14,435,000	13,441,000	18,406,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	10,157,000	9,322,000	6,755,000
Loss on disposal of assets and other	3,633,000	8,485,000	13,042,000
Operating income (loss)	106,119,000	158,787,000	146,815,000
Interest expense	(80,074,000)	(76,786,000)	(65,785,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(36,449,000)	(17,308,000)
Other income (expense), net	567,000	(442,000)	(1,321,000)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(9,837,000)	64,251,000	79,709,000
Income tax expense	1,225,000	1,890,000	2,208,000
Net earnings (loss)	(11,062,000)	62,361,000	77,501,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative expense	8,163	20,462	3,445
Net earnings (loss)	$ (8,163)	$ (20,462)	$ (3,445)