Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common & Class B Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interest
Total, Beginning of Period at Jul. 31, 2018	$ 131,885	$ 1,056	$ 38,473	$ 158,935	$ (55,946)	$ (10,615)	$ (18)
Common & Class B Stock, Beginning of Period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2018		10,555,828
Treasury Stock, Beginning of Period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2018					(3,238,833)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income Attributable to Oil-Dri	3,193	$ 0	0	3,193	$ 0	0
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	23						23
Net Income, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,216
Other comprehensive income	255	0	0	0	0	255	0
Dividends declared	(3,340)	0	0	(3,340)	0	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(135)	0	0	0	$ (135)	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock (in shares)					4,545
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans	1	$ (25)	(373)	0	$ (399)	0	0
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans (in shares)		257,100			(6,350)
Amortization of restricted stock	884	$ 0	884	0	$ 0	0	0
Total, End of Period at Jan. 31, 2019	132,764	$ 1,081	39,730	158,788	$ (56,480)	(10,360)	5
Common Stock & Class B Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2019		10,812,928
Treasury Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2019					(3,249,728)
Total, Beginning of Period at Oct. 31, 2018	131,787	$ 1,071	39,186	158,185	$ (56,154)	(10,512)	11
Common & Class B Stock, Beginning of Period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2018		10,705,328
Treasury Stock, Beginning of Period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2018					(3,245,478)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	2,281
Net Income Attributable to Oil-Dri	2,287	$ 0	0	2,287	$ 0	0
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(5)						(6)
Net Income, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,282
Other comprehensive income	152	0	0	0	0	152	0
Dividends declared	(1,684)	0	0	(1,684)	0	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock	0	0	0	0	$ 0	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock (in shares)					0
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans	1	$ (10)	(315)	0	$ (326)	0	0
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans (in shares)		107,600			(4,250)
Amortization of restricted stock	229	$ 0	229	0	$ 0	0	0
Total, End of Period at Jan. 31, 2019	132,764	$ 1,081	39,730	158,788	$ (56,480)	(10,360)	5
Common Stock & Class B Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2019		10,812,928
Treasury Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2019					(3,249,728)
Total, Beginning of Period at Jul. 31, 2019	135,546	$ 1,086	41,300	164,756	$ (56,543)	(15,039)	(14)
Common & Class B Stock, Beginning of Period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2019		10,860,678
Treasury Stock, Beginning of Period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2019					(3,251,288)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income Attributable to Oil-Dri	8,366	$ 0	0	8,366	$ 0	0
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(157)						(157)
Net Income, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	8,209
Other comprehensive income	5,450	0	0	0	0	5,450	0
Dividends declared	(3,532)	0	0	3,532	0	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(523)	0	0	0	$ 523	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock (in shares)					15,621
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans	0	$ (2)	(70)	0	$ 72	0	0
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans (in shares)		20,477			(2,150)
Amortization of restricted stock	1,779	$ 0	1,779	0	$ 0	0	0
Total, End of Period at Jan. 31, 2020	146,929	$ 1,088	43,149	169,590	$ (57,138)	(9,589)	(171)
Common Stock & Class B Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2020		10,881,155
Treasury Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2020					(3,269,059)
Total, Beginning of Period at Oct. 31, 2019	137,936	$ 1,088	42,327	166,526	$ (57,103)	(14,812)	(90)
Common & Class B Stock, Beginning of Period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2019		10,879,655
Treasury Stock, Beginning of Period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2019					(3,268,057)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income Attributable to Oil-Dri	4,830	$ 0	0	4,830	$ 0	0
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(81)						(81)
Net Income, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	4,749
Other comprehensive income	5,223	0	0	0	0	5,223	0
Dividends declared	(1,766)	0	0	(1,766)	0	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(23)	0	0	0	$ (23)	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock (in shares)					602
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans	0	$ 0	(12)	0	$ (12)	0	0
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans (in shares)		1,500			(400)
Amortization of restricted stock	810	$ 0	810	0	$ 0	0	0
Total, End of Period at Jan. 31, 2020	$ 146,929	$ 1,088	$ 43,149	$ 169,590	$ (57,138)	$ (9,589)	$ (171)
Common Stock & Class B Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2020		10,881,155
Treasury Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2020					(3,269,059)