Schedule I Parent Only Balance Sheets, Statements Of Earnings And Cash Flows (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Jul. 31, 2019	Apr. 30, 2019	Jan. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2018	Jan. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss		$ (71,672)	$ 20,760	$ 43,875	$ (57,508)	$ (217,797)	$ 11,062	$ (1,774)	$ (48,316)	$ (56,249)	$ 6,691	$ 38,528	$ (43,471)	$ (64,545)	$ (256,825)	$ (54,501)
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash used in operating activities:
Other														12,696	9,997	7,933
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities														15,075	74,148	127,288
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired														(13,551)	(18,141)	(3,539)
Net cash used in investing activities														(124,327)	49,527	(45,538)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions														(9,814)	(39,254)	(79,733)
Cash paid for financing costs														(548)	(18,535)	(6,078)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt														0	323,680	230,864
Payments on long-term debt														(2,428)	(212,920)	(174,292)
Payments for repurchase of common stock	$ 16,900													0	0	15,851
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities														995	(10,124)	(80,955)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents														(108,257)	113,551	795
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year					119,311				5,760				4,965	119,311	5,760	4,965
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year		11,054				119,311				5,760				11,054	119,311	5,760
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss														(64,247)	(254,581)	(54,207)
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash used in operating activities:
Other														4,141	3,673	3,982
Equity in (earnings) loss of Ferrellgas, L.P.														29,219	219,902	28,765
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities														(30,887)	(31,006)	(21,460)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Distributions received from Ferrellgas, L.P.														40,706	70,246	118,829
Cash contributed to Ferrellgas, L.P.																(166,148)
Net cash used in investing activities														40,706	70,246	(47,319)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions														(9,814)	(39,254)	(79,733)
Cash paid for financing costs															(42)	(3,653)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt																168,000
Payments for repurchase of common stock																15,851
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities														(9,814)	(39,296)	68,763
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents														5	(56)	(16)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year					$ 3				$ 59				$ 75	3	59	75
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year		$ 8				$ 3				$ 59				$ 8	$ 3	$ 59