Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2011
Apr. 30, 2010
Apr. 30, 2011
Apr. 30, 2010
Revenues:        
Propane and other gas liquids sales $ 647,709,000 $ 536,024,000 $ 1,790,511,000 $ 1,588,038,000
Other 84,664,000 79,266,000 183,046,000 157,174,000
Total revenues 732,373,000 615,290,000 1,973,557,000 1,745,212,000
Costs and expenses:        
Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales 483,101,000 355,316,000 1,299,003,000 1,060,216,000
Cost of product sold - other 60,074,000 51,132,000 111,432,000 82,520,000
Operating expense (includes $0.6 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $3.8 million and $1.2 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, for non-cash stock and unit-based compensation) 104,383,000 106,560,000 310,467,000 308,000,000
Depreciation and amortization expense 20,030,000 20,848,000 60,395,000 62,022,000
General and administrative expense 18,937,000 11,893,000 49,148,000 37,017,000
Equipment lease expense 3,650,000 3,259,000 10,842,000 10,160,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge 2,591,000 2,698,000 7,967,000 6,961,000
Loss on disposal of assets and other 463,000 2,696,000 834,000 5,480,000
Operating income 39,144,000 60,888,000 123,469,000 172,836,000
Interest expense (24,933,000) (25,933,000) (78,205,000) (74,844,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt (10,513,000) (3,408,000) (46,962,000) (20,716,000)
Other income (expense), net 243,000 (529,000) 509,000 (1,085,000)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes 3,941,000 31,018,000 (1,189,000) 76,191,000
Income tax expense 572,000 1,754,000 1,288,000 2,006,000
Net earnings (loss) 3,369,000 29,264,000 (2,477,000) 74,185,000
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest 196,000 401,000 264,000 976,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. 3,173,000 28,863,000 (2,741,000) 73,209,000
Less: General partner's interest in net earnings (loss) 32,000 289,000 (27,000) 732,000
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings (loss) 3,141,000 28,574,000 (2,714,000) 72,477,000
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unitholders' interest $ 0.04 $ 0.41 $ (0.04) $ 1.05
Cash distributions declared per common unit $ 0.50 $ 0.50 $ 1.50 $ 1.50
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]
        
Costs and expenses:        
General and administrative expense 324 126 539 323
Net earnings (loss) (324) (126) (539) (323)
Ferrellgas, L.P. and Subsidiaries [Member]
        
Revenues:        
Propane and other gas liquids sales 647,709,000 536,024,000 1,790,511,000 1,588,038,000
Other 84,664,000 79,266,000 183,046,000 157,174,000
Total revenues 732,373,000 615,290,000 1,973,557,000 1,745,212,000
Costs and expenses:        
Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales 483,101,000 355,316,000 1,299,003,000 1,060,216,000
Cost of product sold - other 60,074,000 51,132,000 111,432,000 82,520,000
Operating expense (includes $0.6 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $3.8 million and $1.2 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, for non-cash stock and unit-based compensation) 104,251,000 106,398,000 310,196,000 307,649,000
Depreciation and amortization expense 20,030,000 20,848,000 60,395,000 62,022,000
General and administrative expense 18,937,000 11,893,000 49,148,000 37,017,000
Equipment lease expense 3,650,000 3,259,000 10,842,000 10,160,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge 2,591,000 2,698,000 7,967,000 6,961,000
Loss on disposal of assets and other 463,000 2,696,000 834,000 5,480,000
Operating income 39,276,000 61,050,000 123,740,000 173,187,000
Interest expense (19,546,000) (19,875,000) (60,422,000) (56,934,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt 0 0 (36,449,000) (17,308,000)
Other income (expense), net 243,000 214,000 509,000 (342,000)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes 19,973,000 41,389,000 27,378,000 98,603,000
Income tax expense 557,000 1,728,000 1,273,000 1,980,000
Net earnings (loss) 19,416,000 39,661,000 26,105,000 96,623,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]
        
Costs and expenses:        
General and administrative expense 323 126 8,163 3,298
Net earnings (loss) $ (323) $ (126) $ (8,163) $ (3,298)