Business Combinations (Aggregate Fair Value) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Goodwill acquisitions	$ 19,879	$ 4,640
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Goodwill acquisitions	19,879	4,640
Propane and related equipment sales [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Working capital	(919)	7,302	0
Goodwill acquisitions	2,922	4,640	0
Trade names & trademarks	0	3,291	0
Aggregate fair value of transactions	38,661	39,221	14,034
Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Working capital	(919)	7,302	0
Goodwill acquisitions	2,922	4,640	0
Trade names & trademarks	0	3,291	0
Aggregate fair value of transactions	38,661	39,221	14,034
Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Customer Lists [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	19,480	12,211	5,574
Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Customer Lists [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	19,480	12,211	5,574
Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Non-Compete Agreements [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	2,659	944	1,006
Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Non-Compete Agreements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	2,659	944	1,006
Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Permits and favorable lease arrangements [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	0	0	0
Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Permits and favorable lease arrangements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	0	0	0
Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	0	5,678	0
Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	0	5,678	0
Midstream Operations [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Working capital	490	0	0
Goodwill acquisitions	16,957	0	0
Trade names & trademarks	0	0	0
Aggregate fair value of transactions	130,340	0	0
Midstream Operations [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Working capital	490	0	0
Goodwill acquisitions	16,957	0	0
Trade names & trademarks	0	0	0
Aggregate fair value of transactions	130,340	0	0
Midstream Operations [Member] | Customer Lists [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	64,000	0	0
Midstream Operations [Member] | Customer Lists [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	64,000	0	0
Midstream Operations [Member] | Non-Compete Agreements [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	13,300	0	0
Midstream Operations [Member] | Non-Compete Agreements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	13,300	0	0
Midstream Operations [Member] | Permits and favorable lease arrangements [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	10,683	0	0
Midstream Operations [Member] | Permits and favorable lease arrangements [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	10,683	0	0
Midstream Operations [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	0	0	0
Midstream Operations [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets acquired	0	0	0
Customer tanks, buildings, land and other [Member] | Propane and related equipment sales [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Customer tanks, buildings, land, salt water disposal wells, and other	14,519	5,155	7,454
Customer tanks, buildings, land and other [Member] | Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Customer tanks, buildings, land, salt water disposal wells, and other	14,519	5,155	7,454
Customer tanks, buildings, land and other [Member] | Midstream Operations [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Customer tanks, buildings, land, salt water disposal wells, and other	622	0	0
Customer tanks, buildings, land and other [Member] | Midstream Operations [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Customer tanks, buildings, land, salt water disposal wells, and other	622	0	0
Salt water disposal wells [Member] | Propane and related equipment sales [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Customer tanks, buildings, land, salt water disposal wells, and other	0	0	0
Salt water disposal wells [Member] | Propane and related equipment sales [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Customer tanks, buildings, land, salt water disposal wells, and other	0	0	0
Salt water disposal wells [Member] | Midstream Operations [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Customer tanks, buildings, land, salt water disposal wells, and other	24,288	0	0
Salt water disposal wells [Member] | Midstream Operations [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Customer tanks, buildings, land, salt water disposal wells, and other	$ 24,288	$ 0	$ 0