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, 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	3,536	$ 0	0	3,536	$ 0	0
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(76)						(76)
Net Income, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,460
Other comprehensive income	227	0	0	0	0	227	0
Dividends declared	(1,766)	0	0	(1,766)	0	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(500)	0	0	0	$ (500)	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock (in shares)					(15,019)
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans	0	$ 2	58	0	$ (60)	0	0
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans (in shares)		18,977			(1,750)
Amortization of restricted stock	969	$ 0	969	0	$ 0	0	0
Total, End of Period at Oct. 31, 2019	137,936	$ 1,088	42,327	166,526	$ (57,103)	(14,812)	(90)
Common Stock & Class B Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2019		10,879,655
Treasury Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2019					(3,268,057)
Total, Beginning of Period at Jul. 31, 2020	147,964	$ 1,089	44,993	176,579	$ (62,269)	(12,254)	(174)
Common & Class B Stock, Beginning of Period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2020		10,886,405
Treasury Stock, Beginning of Period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2020					(3,426,046)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income Attributable to Oil-Dri	3,984	$ 0	0	3,984	$ 0	0
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(35)						(35)
Net Income, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,949
Other comprehensive income	400	0	0	0	0	400	0
Dividends declared	(1,802)	0	0	(1,802)	0	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(978)	0	0	0	$ (978)	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock (in shares)					(26,993)
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans	1	$ 3	2	0	$ (6)	0	0
Net issuance of stock under long-term incentive plans (in shares)		33,212			(200)
Amortization of restricted stock	784	$ 0	784	0	$ 0	0	0
Total, End of Period at Oct. 31, 2020	$ 150,316	$ 1,092	$ 45,779	$ 178,761	$ (63,253)	$ (11,854)	$ (209)
Common Stock & Class B Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2020		10,919,617
Treasury Stock, End of Period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2020					(3,453,239)