Segment Reporting Segment Reporting (Reconciliation of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Net Earnings) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings	$ 86,371,000	$ 61,123,000	$ 53,202,000	$ 36,066,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	85,458,000	60,464,000	52,583,000	35,621,000
Income tax expense	1,041,000	764,000	531,000	714,000
Interest Expense	24,375,000		48,287,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	23,943,000	20,643,000	47,252,000	40,858,000
EBITDA	134,817,000		148,653,000
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	3,788,000	3,636,000	8,162,000	6,679,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	318,000		16,430,000	10,350,000
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal	1,414,000		2,375,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	178,000		627,000
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(4,500,000)		(6,300,000)	0
Litigation Settlement, Expense	0		723,000
Net loss	913,000	659,000	619,000	445,000
Adjusted EBITDA	136,928,000		171,289,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings			619,000
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings	90,409,000	65,171,000	61,272,000	44,033,000
Income tax expense	1,037,000	764,000	526,000	714,000
Interest Expense	20,341,000		40,219,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	23,943,000	20,643,000	47,252,000	40,858,000
EBITDA	135,730,000		149,269,000
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	3,788,000	3,636,000	8,162,000	6,679,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	318,000		16,430,000	10,350,000
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal	1,414,000		2,375,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	178,000		627,000
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(4,500,000)		(6,300,000)	0
Litigation Settlement, Expense	0		723,000
Adjusted EBITDA	136,928,000		171,286,000
General Partner [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings			526,000
General Partner [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings			619,000
General Partner [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net loss	$ 913,000		$ 619,000