Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ 36,066,000	$ 41,047,000
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	40,858,000	41,626,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	6,679,000	9,849,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	10,350,000	6,212,000
Loss on disposal of assets	1,694,000	2,391,000
Non-cash loss on extinguishment of debt	6,526,000	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,105,000	2,515,000
Deferred tax expense	616,000	391,000
Other	1,823,000	1,911,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(227,911,000)	(117,208,000)
Inventories	(18,526,000)	(2,390,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(10,134,000)	(1,489,000)
Accounts payable	87,395,000	55,190,000
Accrued interest expense	(3,809,000)	(116,000)
Other current liabilities	(4,615,000)	8,473,000
Other liabilities	721,000	534,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(70,162,000)	48,936,000
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(5,227,000)	(6,488,000)
Capital expenditures	(22,873,000)	(21,964,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	2,482,000	6,163,000
Other	(8,000)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(25,626,000)	(22,289,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Distributions	(79,907,000)	(79,814,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	369,493,000	22,552,000
Payments on long-term debt	(327,563,000)	(1,868,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	16,991,000	(23,052,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	137,000,000	60,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	(7,473,000)	0
Noncontrolling interest activity	(896,000)	(894,000)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	106,000	105,000
Contributions from partners	0	1,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	107,751,000	(22,970,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(135,000)	3,000
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	11,828,000	3,680,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	6,464,000	8,429,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	18,292,000	12,109,000
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(50)	(215)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(50)	(215)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Capital contribution	50	215
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	50	215
Net change in cash	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	969	969
Cash - end of period	969	969
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	44,033,000	49,261,000
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	40,858,000	41,626,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	6,679,000	9,849,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	10,350,000	6,212,000
Loss on disposal of assets	1,694,000	2,391,000
Non-cash loss on extinguishment of debt	6,526,000	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,105,000	2,515,000
Deferred tax expense	616,000	391,000
Other	1,582,000	1,700,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(227,911,000)	(117,208,000)
Inventories	(18,526,000)	(2,390,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(10,120,000)	(1,493,000)
Accounts payable	87,395,000	55,190,000
Accrued interest expense	(3,810,000)	(116,000)
Other current liabilities	(4,595,000)	8,348,000
Other liabilities	721,000	534,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(62,403,000)	56,810,000
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(5,242,000)	(6,488,000)
Capital expenditures	(22,873,000)	(21,964,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	2,482,000	6,163,000
Other	(8,000)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(25,641,000)	(22,289,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Distributions	(88,652,000)	(88,557,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	369,493,000	22,552,000
Payments on long-term debt	(327,563,000)	(1,868,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	16,991,000	(23,052,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	137,000,000	60,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	(7,473,000)	0
Contributions from partners	252,000	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	100,048,000	(30,925,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(135,000)	3,000
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	11,869,000	3,599,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	6,307,000	8,218,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	18,176,000	11,817,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(4,840)	(4,675)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(4,840)	(4,675)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Capital contribution	4,840	4,675
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	4,840	4,675
Net change in cash	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	1,100	1,100
Cash - end of period	$ 1,100	$ 1,100