Supplemental Financial Statement Information Supplemental Financial Statement Information (Loss on asset sales and disposals) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017
Loss on asset sales and disposals [Line Items]
Loss on sale of assets classified as held for sale	$ 1,237	$ 0	$ 36,752	$ 0
Loss on sale of assets and other	5,033	2,393	9,662	8,861
Loss on asset sales and disposals	6,270	2,393	46,414	8,861
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Loss on asset sales and disposals [Line Items]
Loss on sale of assets classified as held for sale	1,237	0	36,752	0
Loss on sale of assets and other	5,033	2,393	9,662	8,861
Loss on asset sales and disposals	$ 6,270	$ 2,393	$ 46,414	$ 8,861

[Line Items] for Loss on asset sales and disposals [Table]

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Amount before tax of gain (loss) recognized on the sale or disposal of a disposal group. Excludes discontinued operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2443-110228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176398&loc=d3e2941-110230

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Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, excluding oil and gas property and timber property.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176398&loc=d3e2941-110230

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Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, including oil and gas property and timber property.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

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