Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Effect on Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ (45,703)	$ (44,162)	$ (138,948)	$ (132,931)
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ (38,006)	$ (35,395)	$ (113,573)	$ (106,740)

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense for debt.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6036836-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227

Name:	us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration