Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ (48,316,000)	$ (43,471,000)
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	25,732,000	26,202,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	3,962,000	3,754,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	0	1,881,000
Loss on Disposal of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges	895,000	6,423,000
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	1,607,000	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	693,000	9,000
Deferred tax expense	364,000	143,000
Other	2,238,000	1,302,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(23,862,000)	1,310,000
Inventories	(33,160,000)	(9,702,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(6,936,000)	8,032,000
Accounts payable	13,496,000	7,049,000
Accrued interest expense	32,438,000	28,495,000
Other current liabilities	39,550,000	21,251,000
Other assets and liabilities	(768,000)	1,872,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	7,933,000	54,550,000
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(13,867,000)	0
Capital expenditures	(20,154,000)	(10,005,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	1,208,000	2,279,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(32,813,000)	(7,726,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Distributions	(9,813,000)	(50,294,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	23,580,000	25,626,000
Payments on long-term debt	(281,000)	(2,261,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	(5,879,000)	(4,467,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	19,000,000	10,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	(287,000)	(1,390,000)
Proceeds from (Payments to) Noncontrolling Interests	(100,000)	(513,000)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	0	(15,851,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	26,220,000	(39,150,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	1,340,000	7,674,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	5,760,000	4,965,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	7,100,000	12,639,000
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(50)	(92)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(50)	(92)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Capital contribution	50	92
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	50	92
Net change in cash	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	1,000	1,000
Cash - end of period	1,000	1,000
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(39,699,000)	(39,440,000)
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	25,732,000	26,202,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	3,962,000	3,754,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	0	1,881,000
Loss on Disposal of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges	895,000	6,423,000
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	1,607,000	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	693,000	9,000
Deferred tax expense	364,000	143,000
Other	1,325,000	1,197,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(23,862,000)	1,310,000
Inventories	(33,160,000)	(9,702,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(6,885,000)	8,031,000
Accounts payable	13,496,000	7,049,000
Accrued interest expense	24,740,000	24,571,000
Other current liabilities	39,839,000	21,251,000
Other assets and liabilities	(1,057,000)	1,872,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	7,990,000	54,551,000
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(13,867,000)	0
Capital expenditures	(20,154,000)	(10,005,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	1,208,000	2,279,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(32,813,000)	(7,726,000)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Distributions	(9,913,000)	(66,658,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	23,580,000	25,626,000
Payments on long-term debt	(281,000)	(2,261,000)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings	(5,879,000)	(4,467,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	19,000,000	10,000,000
Cash paid for financing costs	(287,000)	(1,390,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	26,220,000	(39,150,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	1,397,000	7,675,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	5,701,000	4,890,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	7,098,000	12,565,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(1,550)	(1,550)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,500	1,500
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(50)	(50)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Capital contribution	50	50
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	50	50
Net change in cash	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	1,100	1,100
Cash - end of period	$ 1,100	$ 1,100