Segment Reporting Segment Reporting (Reconciliation of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Net Earnings) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 10,861	$ 6,536	$ (38,897)	$ 1,561
Income tax expense (benefit)	67	(192)	282	(194)
Interest Expense	40,375	39,860	123,855	112,107
Depreciation and amortization expense	25,348	25,737	76,565	77,546
EBITDA	76,651	71,941	161,805	191,020
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	2,738	4,697	10,731	11,396
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	0	0	0	3,298
Asset Impairment Charges	0	0	10,005	0
Loss on asset sales and disposals	6,270	2,393	46,414	8,861
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(227)	(162)	(1,422)	(1,433)
Severance Costs	0	0	1,663	1,959
Legal Fees	1,289	0	3,407	0
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain	0	(2,234)		(4,449)
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Loss			1,293
Net earnings (loss)	11,062	6,691	(39,028)	1,748
Adjusted EBITDA	86,922	76,790	233,765	210,839
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	201	155	(131)	187
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	19,840	15,395	(13,012)	18,555
Income tax expense (benefit)	57	(197)	261	(200)
Interest Expense	31,739	31,270	97,993	95,416
Depreciation and amortization expense	25,348	25,737	76,565	77,546
EBITDA	76,984	72,205	161,807	191,317
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	2,738	4,697	10,731	11,396
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge	0	0	0	3,298
Asset Impairment Charges	0	0	10,005	0
Loss on asset sales and disposals	6,270	2,393	46,414	8,861
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(227)	(162)	(1,422)	(1,433)
Severance Costs	0	0	1,663	1,959
Legal Fees	1,289	0	3,407	0
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain	0	(2,234)		(4,449)
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Loss			1,293
Net earnings (loss)	19,840	15,395	(13,012)	18,555
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 87,054	$ 76,899	233,898	$ 210,949
General Partner [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)			(389)
General Partner [Member] | Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)			$ (131)