Schedule I Parent Only Balance Sheets, Statements Of Earnings And Cash Flows (Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ (43,760,000)	$ 33,339,000	$ 53,355,000
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Other	4,362,000	2,196,000	(603,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	117,561,000	134,630,000	201,769,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash used in investing activities	(51,063,000)	(81,328,000)	(53,230,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(147,785,000)	(141,721,000)	(134,173,000)
Cash paid for financing costs	(9,886,000)	(22,073,000)	(3,903,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	564,807,000	936,861,000	208,259,000
Reductions in long-term debt	650,285,000	844,955,000	239,555,000
Issuance of common units (net of issuance costs of $300, $18 and $401 for the years ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	157,212,000	19,949,000	69,447,000
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	544,000	1,189,000
Net cash used in financing activities	(70,464,000)	(48,969,000)	(158,080,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(3,964,000)	4,335,000	(9,548,000)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	11,401,000	7,066,000	16,614,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	7,437,000	11,401,000	7,066,000
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(43,648,000)	32,709,000	52,572,000
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Other	1,509,000	1,182,000	292,000
Equity in (earnings) loss of Ferrellgas, L.P.	10,950,000	(61,731,000)	(76,718,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	(31,189,000)	(27,840,000)	(23,854,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Distributions received from Ferrellgas, L.P.	272,777,000	191,822,000	156,031,000
Cash contributed to Ferrellgas, L.P.	(157,680,000)	(51,300,000)	(69,848,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	115,097,000	140,522,000	86,183,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(145,002,000)	(139,763,000)	(132,581,000)
Cash paid for financing costs	(173,000)	(6,275,000)	50,000
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt		280,000,000
Reductions in long-term debt	(98,000,000)	(268,000,000)
Issuance of common units (net of issuance costs of $300, $18 and $401 for the years ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively	157,212,000	19,949,000	69,447,000
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	544,000	1,189,000
Other	1,594,000	214,000	702,000
Net cash used in financing activities	(83,825,000)	(112,686,000)	(62,382,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	83,000	(4,000)	(53,000)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	12,000	16,000	69,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$ 95,000	$ 12,000	$ 16,000