Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2009	Jul. 31, 2011 Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2009 Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Ferrellgas, L.P. And Subsidiaries [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Ferrellgas, L.P. And Subsidiaries [Member]	Jul. 31, 2009 Ferrellgas, L.P. And Subsidiaries [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2009 Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ (43,760,000)	$ 33,339,000	$ 53,355,000	$ (2,789)	$ (568)	$ (445)	$ (11,062,000)	$ 62,361,000	$ 77,501,000	$ (8,163)	$ (20,462)	$ (3,445)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	82,486,000	82,491,000	82,494,000				82,486,000	82,491,000	82,494,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	10,157,000	9,322,000	6,755,000				10,157,000	9,322,000	6,755,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	13,488,000	7,831,000	2,312,000				13,488,000	7,831,000	2,312,000
Loss on disposal of assets	3,633,000	7,296,000	5,009,000				3,633,000	7,296,000	5,009,000
Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization		6,566,000	12,124,000					6,566,000	12,124,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	27,463,000						25,403,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	6,212,000	8,440,000	5,317,000				6,212,000	8,440,000	5,317,000
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	751,000	439,000	388,000	(2,416,000)			751,000	439,000	388,000	(10,549,000)
Other	4,362,000	2,196,000	(603,000)				3,755,000	1,417,000	(854,000)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(28,732,000)	2,529,000	65,466,000				(28,732,000)	2,529,000	65,466,000
Inventories	30,772,000	(37,103,000)	22,493,000				30,772,000	(37,103,000)	22,493,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(4,325,000)	(676,000)	(120,000)				(4,317,000)	(831,000)	(118,000)
Accounts payable	18,613,000	(263,000)	(21,054,000)				18,613,000	(263,000)	(21,054,000)
Accrued interest expense	(633,000)	693,000	(156,000)				449,000	601,000	(156,000)
Other current liabilities	(3,365,000)	(14,000)	5,033,000				(3,268,000)	(139,000)	4,995,000
Other liabilities	439,000	1,544,000	(1,044,000)				439,000	1,544,000	(1,044,000)
Accounts receivable securitization:
Proceeds from new accounts receivable securitizations		124,000,000	109,000,000					124,000,000	109,000,000
Proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving period accounts receivable securitizations		1,334,144,000	1,231,336,000					1,334,144,000	1,231,336,000
Remittances of amounts collected as servicer of accounts receivable securitizations		(1,448,144,000)	(1,376,336,000)					(1,448,144,000)	(1,376,336,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	117,561,000	134,630,000	201,769,000	(2,789)	(568)	(445)	148,779,000	162,501,000	225,628,000	(8,163)	(20,462)	(3,445)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(7,298,000)	(40,883,000)	(2,701,000)				(7,327,000)	(40,914,000)	(2,706,000)
Capital expenditures	(49,759,000)	(45,185,000)	(54,085,000)				(49,759,000)	(45,185,000)	(54,085,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	5,994,000	9,220,000	8,199,000				5,994,000	9,220,000	8,199,000
Other		(4,480,000)	(4,643,000)					(4,480,000)	(4,643,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(51,063,000)	(81,328,000)	(53,230,000)				(51,092,000)	(81,359,000)	(53,235,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(145,002,000)	(139,763,000)	(132,581,000)				(275,560,000)	(193,780,000)	(157,623,000)
Contributions from partners		311,000					159,291,000	51,823,000	70,561,000
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	564,807,000	936,861,000	208,259,000				564,807,000	656,861,000	208,259,000
Payments on long-term debt	(650,285,000)	(844,955,000)	(239,555,000)				(552,285,000)	(576,955,000)	(239,555,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	(2,276,000)	1,044,000	(59,570,000)				(2,276,000)	1,044,000	(59,570,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	14,000,000						14,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	(9,886,000)	(22,073,000)	(3,903,000)				(9,713,000)	(15,798,000)	(3,953,000)
Noncontrolling interest activity	(1,172,000)	(1,435,000)	(879,000)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	544,000	1,189,000
Proceeds from equity offering, net of issuance costs of $300, $18 and $401, respectively	157,212,000	19,949,000	69,447,000
Cash contribution from general partner in connection with common unit issuances	1,594,000	214,000	702,000
Capital contribution				2,789	537	445				8,163	20,462	3,445
Net cash used in financing activities	(70,464,000)	(48,969,000)	(158,080,000)	2,789	537	445	(101,736,000)	(76,805,000)	(181,881,000)	8,163	20,462	3,445
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,000	2,000	(7,000)				2,000	2,000	(7,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(3,964,000)	4,335,000	(9,548,000)		(31)		(4,047,000)	4,339,000	(9,495,000)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	11,401,000	7,066,000	16,614,000				11,389,000	7,050,000	16,545,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	7,437,000	11,401,000	7,066,000				7,342,000	11,389,000	7,050,000
Cash - beginning of period				969	1,000	1,000				1,100	1,100	1,100
Cash - end of period				$ 969	$ 969	$ 1,000				$ 1,100	$ 1,100	$ 1,100