Schedule I Parent Only Balance Sheets, Statements Of Earnings And Cash Flows (Statement Of Earnings) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating expense	$ (451,528,000)	$ (412,450,000)	$ (401,727,000)
Operating income (loss)	144,414,000	147,602,000	82,980,000
Interest expense	(86,502,000)	(89,145,000)	(93,254,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(21,202,000)	0	0
Other income (expense), net	(479,000)	565,000	506,000
Income tax expense	(2,516,000)	(1,855,000)	(1,128,000)
Net earnings (loss)	33,715,000	57,167,000	(10,896,000)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (loss) of Ferrellgas, L.P.	49,403,000	72,634,000	5,533,000
Operating expense	23,000	(20,000)	(350,000)
Operating income (loss)	49,426,000	72,614,000	5,183,000
Interest expense	(16,170,000)	(16,171,000)	(16,127,000)
Income tax expense	(45,000)	(17,000)	(8,000)
Net earnings (loss)	$ 33,211,000	$ 56,426,000	$ (10,952,000)