Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ (2,477,000)	$ 74,185,000
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	60,395,000	62,022,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	7,967,000	6,961,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	13,709,000	4,188,000
Loss on disposal of assets	834,000	3,161,000
Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization	0	6,699,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	27,463,000	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,395,000	6,228,000
Deferred tax expense	362,000	247,000
Other	5,702,000	2,069,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(103,076,000)	(82,819,000)
Inventories	47,187,000	(9,732,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,981,000)	(2,791,000)
Accounts payable	32,596,000	21,023,000
Accrued interest expense	2,394,000	621,000
Other current liabilities	(11,359,000)	(13,097,000)
Other liabilities	289,000	1,342,000
Accounts receivable securitization:
Proceeds from new accounts receivable securitizations	0	124,000,000
Proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving period accounts receivable securitizations	0	1,104,352,000
Remittances of amounts collected as servicer of accounts receivable securitizations	0	(1,179,352,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	84,400,000	129,307,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(5,113,000)	(40,883,000)
Capital expenditures	(36,662,000)	(33,557,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	4,273,000	4,597,000
Other	0	(3,686,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(37,502,000)	(73,529,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(106,668,000)	(104,651,000)
Distributions	(108,980,000)	(105,839,000)
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	552,370,000	894,274,000
Reductions in long-term debt	(649,827,000)	(807,830,000)
Net reductions in short-term borrowings	(26,739,000)	(33,312,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	37,000,000	0
Cash paid for financing costs	(9,655,000)	(21,413,000)
Noncontrolling interest activity	(701,000)	(665,000)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options	468,000	1,189,000
Proceeds from equity offering, net of issuance costs	157,212,000	19,949,000
Cash contribution from general partner in connection with common unit issuances	1,591,000	202,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(44,949,000)	(52,257,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	1,000	4,000
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,950,000	3,525,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	11,401,000	7,066,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	13,351,000	10,591,000
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(539)	(323)
Accounts receivable securitization:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(539)	(323)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution	539	323
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	539	323
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	969	1,000
Cash - end of period	969	1,000
Ferrellgas, L.P. and Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	26,105,000	96,623,000
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	60,395,000	62,022,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge	7,967,000	6,961,000
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge	13,709,000	4,188,000
Loss on disposal of assets	834,000	3,161,000
Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization	0	6,699,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	25,403,000	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,395,000	6,228,000
Deferred tax expense	362,000	247,000
Other	5,198,000	1,344,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization	(103,076,000)	(82,819,000)
Inventories	47,187,000	(9,732,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,974,000)	(3,287,000)
Accounts payable	32,596,000	21,288,000
Accrued interest expense	(450,000)	1,280,000
Other current liabilities	(11,281,000)	(13,046,000)
Other liabilities	289,000	1,342,000
Accounts receivable securitization:
Proceeds from new accounts receivable securitizations	0	124,000,000
Proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving period accounts receivable securitizations	0	1,104,352,000
Remittances of amounts collected as servicer of accounts receivable securitizations	0	(1,179,352,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	107,659,000	151,499,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(5,131,000)	(40,914,000)
Capital expenditures	(36,662,000)	(33,557,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets	4,273,000	4,597,000
Other	0	(3,686,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(37,520,000)	(73,560,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions	(228,906,000)	(117,564,000)
Contributions from partners	159,291,000	51,823,000
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt	552,370,000	614,274,000
Reductions in long-term debt	(551,827,000)	(573,933,000)
Net reductions in short-term borrowings	(26,739,000)	(33,312,000)
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings	37,000,000	0
Cash paid for financing costs	(9,482,000)	(15,713,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(68,293,000)	(74,425,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	1,000	4,000
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,847,000	3,518,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	11,389,000	7,050,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	13,236,000	10,568,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	(8,163)	(3,298)
Accounts receivable securitization:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(8,163)	(3,298)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution	8,163	3,298
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	8,163	3,298
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	1,100	1,100
Cash - end of period	$ 1,100	$ 1,100