Segment Reporting - Capital Expenditures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2019	Jan. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Maintenance	$ 32,009	$ 13,443
Growth	23,316	19,324
Capital expenditures, total	55,325	32,767
Propane and related equipment sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Maintenance	31,460	12,016
Growth	23,316	18,311
Capital expenditures, total	54,776	30,327
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Maintenance	549	1,427
Growth	0	1,013
Capital expenditures, total	549	2,440
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Maintenance	32,009	13,443
Growth	23,316	19,324
Capital expenditures, total	55,325	32,767
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Propane and related equipment sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Maintenance	31,460	12,016
Growth	23,316	18,311
Capital expenditures, total	54,776	30,327
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Maintenance	549	1,427
Growth	0	1,013
Capital expenditures, total	$ 549	$ 2,440