Partners' Capital (Partners Distribution Paid) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011		Oct. 31, 2010
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions	$ 38,758		$ 35,484
Common unit and general partner distributions paid	38,367		35,125
Equity interest in subsidiaries common units	100.00%
Ferrellgas, L.P. And Subsidiaries [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions	38,758		35,484
Equity interest in subsidiaries common units	100.00%
Ferrell Companies [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Common unit and general partner distributions paid	10,040	[1]	10,040	[1]
Equity interest in subsidiaries common units	26.00%
FCI Trading Corp. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Common unit and general partner distributions paid	98	[2]	98	[2]
Ferrell Propane, Inc. [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Common unit and general partner distributions paid	26	[3]	26	[3]
James E. Ferrell [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Common unit and general partner distributions paid	2,179	[4]	2,177	[4]
General Partner [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Common unit and general partner distributions paid	384		351
General Partner [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. And Subsidiaries [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions	391		359
Ferrellgas Partners [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. And Subsidiaries [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Distributions	38,367		35,125
Public Common Unitholders [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Common unit and general partner distributions paid	$ 25,640		$ 22,433

[1] Ferrell Companies is the owner of the general partner and a 26% owner of Ferrellgas Partner's common units and thus a related party.

[2] FCI Trading Corp. ("FCI Trading") is an affiliate of the general partner and thus a related party.

[3] Ferrell Propane, Inc. ("Ferrell Propane") is controlled by the general partner and thus a related party.

[4] James E. Ferrell is the Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the general partner and thus a related party.