Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ 3,892,000	$ (5,846,000)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	41,716,000	40,365,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	4,516,000	5,376,000
Non-cash unit and stock-based compensation charge	4,482,000	12,081,000
Loss on disposal of assets	832,000	371,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	25,403,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	3,461,000	3,346,000
Deferred tax expense	292,000	49,000
Other	1,155,000	4,318,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net	(136,899,000)	(192,766,000)
Inventories	(34,340,000)	11,498,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(9,022,000)	(10,844,000)
Accounts payable	64,712,000	94,117,000
Accrued interest expense	2,000	(1,417,000)
Other current liabilities	10,882,000	6,814,000
Other liabilities	295,000	337,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(44,024,000)	(6,798,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(10,327,000)	(4,880,000)
Capital expenditures	(24,453,000)	(17,318,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	2,374,000	3,200,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(32,406,000)	(18,998,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(76,738,000)	(70,896,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	31,490,000	536,621,000
Payments on long-term debt	(52,220,000)	(531,506,000)
Net reductions in short-term borrowings	(8,890,000)	(12,721,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	144,000,000	98,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	(3,315,000)	(9,651,000)
Noncontrolling interest activity	(352,000)	(847,000)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	239,000	317,000
Proceeds from equity offering, net of issuance costs	50,000,000	29,950,000
Contributions from partners	504,000	615,000
Net cash provided by financing activities	84,718,000	39,882,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	2,000
Change in cash	8,288,000	14,088,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	7,437,000	11,401,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	15,725,000	25,489,000
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(175)	(215)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(175)	(215)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution	175	215
Net cash provided by financing activities	175	215
Change in cash	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	969	969
Cash - end of period	969	969
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	12,082,000	6,689,000
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	41,716,000	40,365,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	4,516,000	5,376,000
Non-cash unit and stock-based compensation charge	4,482,000	12,081,000
Loss on disposal of assets	832,000	371,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	25,403,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	3,461,000	3,346,000
Deferred tax expense	292,000	49,000
Other	950,000	3,943,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net	(136,899,000)	(192,766,000)
Inventories	(34,340,000)	11,498,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(9,008,000)	(10,839,000)
Accounts payable	64,712,000	94,117,000
Accrued interest expense	1,000	(1,417,000)
Other current liabilities	10,793,000	6,797,000
Other liabilities	295,000	337,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(36,115,000)	5,350,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(10,340,000)	(4,896,000)
Capital expenditures	(24,453,000)	(17,318,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	2,374,000	3,200,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(32,419,000)	(19,014,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(85,450,000)	(83,818,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	31,490,000	536,621,000
Payments on long-term debt	(52,220,000)	(531,506,000)
Net reductions in short-term borrowings	(8,890,000)	(12,721,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	144,000,000	98,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	(3,315,000)	(9,478,000)
Contributions from partners	50,510,000	30,309,000
Net cash provided by financing activities	76,125,000	27,407,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	2,000
Change in cash	7,591,000	13,745,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	7,342,000	11,389,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	14,933,000	25,134,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(3,165)	(7,840)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(3,165)	(7,840)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution	3,165	7,840
Net cash provided by financing activities	3,165	7,840
Change in cash	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	1,100	1,100
Cash - end of period	$ 1,100	$ 1,100