Segment Reporting Segment Reporting (Reconciliation of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Net Earnings) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net loss	$ (33,169,000)	$ (25,057,000)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(32,875,000)	(24,843,000)
Income tax expense	(510,000)	(50,000)
Interest Expense	23,912,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	23,309,000	20,215,000
EBITDA	13,836,000
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	4,374,000	3,043,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	16,112,000	4,431,000
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal	961,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	449,000
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(1,800,000)	0
Estimated Litigation Liability	723,000
Net loss	(294,000)	(214,000)
Adjusted EBITDA	34,361,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net loss	(294,000)
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net loss	(29,137,000)	(21,138,000)
Income tax expense	(511,000)	(50,000)
Interest Expense	19,878,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	23,309,000	20,215,000
EBITDA	13,539,000
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	4,374,000	3,043,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	16,112,000	4,431,000
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal	961,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	449,000
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(1,800,000)	0
Estimated Litigation Liability	723,000
Adjusted EBITDA	34,358,000
General Partner [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net loss	(329,000)
General Partner [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net loss	(294,000)
General Partner [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net loss	$ (294,000)