Quarterly Data (Summarized Unaudited Quarterly Data) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011		Apr. 30, 2011		Jan. 31, 2011		Oct. 31, 2010		Jul. 31, 2010		Apr. 30, 2010		Jan. 31, 2010		Oct. 31, 2009		Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2009
Revenues	$ 449,658,000		$ 732,373,000	[1]	$ 840,992,000	[2]	$ 400,192,000		$ 353,848,000		$ 615,290,000	[3]	$ 777,852,000		$ 352,070,000	[4]	$ 2,423,215,000	$ 2,099,060,000	$ 2,069,522,000
Gross margin from propane and other gas liquids sales	111,405,000	[5]	164,608,000	[1],[5]	214,763,000	[2],[5]	112,137,000	[5]	114,962,000	[5]	180,708,000	[3],[5]	220,368,000	[5]	126,746,000	[4],[5]
Net earnings (loss)	(41,283,000)		3,369,000	[1]	22,419,000	[2]	(28,265,000)		(40,846,000)		29,264,000	[3]	77,858,000		(32,937,000)	[4]	(43,760,000)	33,339,000	53,355,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.	(40,907,000)		3,173,000	[1]	22,129,000	[2]	(28,043,000)		(40,500,000)		28,863,000	[3]	77,011,000		(32,665,000)	[4]	(43,648,000)	32,709,000	52,572,000
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings (loss)	(40,498,000)		3,141,000	[1]	21,908,000	[2]	(27,763,000)		(40,095,000)		28,574,000	[3]	64,397,000		(32,338,000)	[4]	(43,212,000)	32,382,000	52,046,000
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unitholders' interest	$ (0.53)		$ 0.04	[1]	$ 0.31	[2]	$ (0.40)		$ (0.58)		$ 0.41	[3]	$ 0.93		$ (0.47)	[4]	$ (0.60)	$ 0.47	$ 0.79
Loss on extinguishment of debt			10,500,000		36,400,000						3,400,000				17,300,000		(27,463,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt, per share			$ 0.14		$ 0.50						$ 0.05				$ 0.25
Legal fees			10,500,000
Legal fees, per share			$ 0.14
Ferrellgas, L.P. And Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues	449,658,000		732,373,000	[6]	840,992,000	[7]	400,192,000		353,848,000		615,290,000		777,852,000		352,070,000	[8]	2,423,215,000	2,099,060,000	2,069,522,000
Gross margin from propane and other gas liquids sales	111,405,000	[9]	164,608,000	[6],[9]	214,763,000	[7],[9]	112,137,000	[9]	114,962,000	[9]	180,708,000	[9]	220,368,000	[9]	126,746,000	[8],[9]
Net earnings (loss)	(37,167,000)		19,416,000	[6]	28,688,000	[7]	(21,999,000)		(34,262,000)		39,661,000		83,849,000		(26,887,000)	[8]	(11,062,000)	62,361,000	77,501,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt			10,500,000		36,400,000										17,300,000		(25,403,000)
Legal fees			(10,500,000)
Common Unitholders [Member]
Loss on extinguishment of debt			10,400,000		35,700,000						3,400,000				17,000,000
Legal fees			10,300,000
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. [Member]
Loss on extinguishment of debt					36,100,000						3,400,000				17,100,000
Legal fees			$ 10,400,000

[1] Includes litigation accrual and related legal fees, which decreased Net earnings by $10.5 million, decreased Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. by $10.4 million, decreased Common unitholders' interest in net earnings by $10.3 million and decreased Basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders' interest by $0.14. Also includes "Loss on extinguishment of debt," which decreased Net earnings by $10.5 million, decreased Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. by $10.5 million, decreased Common unitholders' interest in net earnings by $10.4 million and decreased Basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders' interest by $0.14. See Note L - Contingencies and commitments - for a discussion of the litigation accrual and related legal fees. See Note H - Debt - for a discussion of make-whole payments and non-cash write-offs of debt.

[2] Includes "Loss on extinguishment of debt," which decreased Net earnings by $36.4 million, decreased Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. by $36.1 million, decreased Common unitholders' interest in net earnings by $35.7 million and decreased Basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders' interest by $0.50. See Note H - Debt - for a discussion of make-whole payments and non-cash write-offs of debt.

[3] Includes "Loss on extinguishment of debt," which decreased Net earnings by $3.4 million, decreased Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. by $3.4 million, decreased Common unitholders' interest in net earnings by $3.4 million and decreased Basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders' interest by $0.05.

[4] Includes "Loss on extinguishment of debt" which increased Net loss by $17.3 million, increased Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. by $17.1 million, increased Common unitholders' interest in net loss by $17.0 million and increased Basic and diluted net loss per common unitholders' interest by $0.25.

[5] Gross margin from "Propane and other gas liquids sales" represents "Revenues - Propane and other gas liquids sales" less "Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales."

[6] Includes litigation accrual and related legal fees, which decreased Net earnings by $10.5 million. See Note L - Contingencies and commitments - for a discussion of the litigation accrual and related legal fees.

[7] Includes "Loss on extinguishment of debt," which decreased Net earnings by $36.4 million. See Note H - Debt - for a discussion of make-whole payments and non-cash write-offs of debt.

[8] Includes "Loss on extinguishment of debt," which increased Net loss by $17.3 million. See Note H - Debt - for a discussion of make-whole payments and non-cash write-offs of debt.

[9] Gross margin from "Propane and other gas liquids sales" represents "Revenues - Propane and other gas liquids sales" less "Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales."