Condensed Consolidated Statements of Partners' Capital (USD $)	Total	Ferrellgas, L.P. and Subsidiaries [Member]	Common unitholders [Member]	Common unitholders [Member] Ferrellgas, L.P. and Subsidiaries [Member]	General partner unitholder [Member]	General partner unitholder [Member] Ferrellgas, L.P. and Subsidiaries [Member]	Risk management [Member]	Risk management [Member] Ferrellgas, L.P. and Subsidiaries [Member]	Currency translation adjustments [Member]	Currency translation adjustments [Member] Ferrellgas, L.P. and Subsidiaries [Member]	Pension liability [Member]	Pension liability [Member] Ferrellgas, L.P. and Subsidiaries [Member]	Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P partners' capital [Member]	Noncontrolling interest [Member]
Value at Jul. 31, 2009	$ 151,345,000		$ 206,255,000		$ (57,988,000)		$ (989,000)		$ 22,000		$ (227,000)		$ 147,073,000	$ 4,272,000
Shares at Jul. 31, 2009			68,236,800		689,300
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP and stock and unit-based compensation charges	11,149,000		10,927,000		110,000		0		0		0		11,037,000	112,000
Distributions	(105,839,000)	(117,564,000)	(103,604,000)		(1,047,000)		0		0		0		(104,651,000)	(1,188,000)
Common units issued in connection with acquisitions - shares			155,100		1,500
Common units issued in connection with acquisitions - value	3,123,000		3,061,000		31,000		0		0		0		3,092,000	31,000
Common unit options issued - shares			71,500		700
Common unit options issued - value	1,209,000		1,189,000		12,000		0		0		0		1,201,000	8,000
Common units issued in offering, net of issuance costs - shares			1,058,400		10,700
Common units issued in offering, net of issuance costs - value	20,355,000		19,949,000		202,000		0		0		0		20,151,000	204,000
Cash contributed by Ferrellgas Partners and general partner	311,000		0		0		0		0		0		0	311,000
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	74,185,000	96,623,000	72,477,000		732,000		0		0		0		73,209,000	976,000
Other comprehensive income:
Net earnings on risk management derivatives			0		0		15,039,000		0		0			153,000
Reclassification of derivatives to earnings			0		0		(9,597,000)		0		0			(98,000)
Foreign currency translation adjustment			0		0		0		5,000		0
Tax effect on foreign currency translation adjustment	5,501,000		0		0		0		(1,000)		0		5,446,000
Comprehensive income	79,686,000												78,655,000	1,031,000
Value at Apr. 30, 2010	161,339,000		210,254,000		(57,948,000)		4,453,000		26,000		(227,000)		156,558,000	4,781,000
Shares at Apr. 30, 2010			69,521,800		702,200
Value at Jul. 31, 2010	85,902,000	363,047,000	141,281,000	359,782,000	(58,644,000)	3,671,000	(166,000)	(157,000)	24,000	24,000	(273,000)	(273,000)	82,222,000	3,680,000
Shares at Jul. 31, 2010			69,521,800		702,200
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP and stock and unit-based compensation charges	21,676,000	21,676,000	21,243,000	21,458,000	215,000	218,000		0		0		0	21,458,000	218,000
Distributions	(108,980,000)	(228,906,000)	(105,601,000)	(226,594,000)	(1,067,000)	(2,312,000)		0		0		0	(106,668,000)	(2,312,000)
Common units issued in connection with acquisitions - shares			63,500		600
Common units issued in connection with acquisitions - value	1,658,000	1,645,000	1,625,000	1,625,000	16,000	20,000		0		0		0	1,641,000	17,000
Common unit options issued - shares			40,400		400
Common unit options issued - value	476,000		468,000		5,000								473,000	3,000
Common units issued in offering, net of issuance costs - shares			6,275,100		63,400
Common units issued in offering, net of issuance costs - value	160,408,000		157,212,000		1,588,000								158,800,000	1,608,000
Cash contributed by Ferrellgas Partners and general partner		159,288,000		157,680,000		1,608,000		0		0		0
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	(2,477,000)	26,105,000	(2,714,000)	25,841,000	(27,000)	264,000		0		0		0	(2,741,000)	264,000
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	1,255,000	1,255,000	1,230,000	1,242,000	12,000	13,000		0		0		0	1,242,000	13,000
Other comprehensive income:
Net earnings on risk management derivatives		0		0		0	24,082,000	24,328,000		0		0		246,000
Reclassification of derivatives to earnings		0		0		0	(7,825,000)	7,905,000		0		0		(80,000)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	16,424,000	16,424,000		0		0		0	1,000	1,000		0	16,258,000
Comprehensive income	15,202,000	43,784,000											14,759,000	443,000
Value at Apr. 30, 2011	176,342,000	360,534,000	214,744,000	341,034,000	(57,902,000)	3,482,000	16,091,000	16,266,000	25,000	25,000	(273,000)	(273,000)	172,685,000	3,657,000
Shares at Apr. 30, 2011			75,900,800		766,600
Value at Jan. 31, 2011
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	3,369,000	19,416,000
Value at Apr. 30, 2011	$ 176,342,000	$ 360,534,000