Consolidated Statements Of Earnings - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2016
Jan. 31, 2015
Jan. 31, 2016
Jan. 31, 2015
Revenues:        
Propane and other gas liquids sales $ 376,856,000 $ 560,867,000 $ 622,157,000 $ 955,228,000
Midstream operations 188,333,000 7,153,000 382,003,000 15,069,000
Other 84,049,000 97,953,000 116,224,000 139,031,000
Total revenues 649,238,000 665,973,000 1,120,384,000 1,109,328,000
Costs and expenses:        
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales 174,829,000 330,692,000 296,580,000 595,506,000
Cost of sales - midstream operations 148,443,000 2,219,000 302,047,000 4,187,000
Cost of sales - other 55,774,000 68,071,000 70,222,000 89,963,000
Operating expense 115,997,000 107,214,000 232,196,000 213,642,000
Depreciation and amortization expense 37,367,000 23,943,000 74,346,000 47,252,000
General and administrative expense 10,072,000 10,872,000 29,216,000 34,267,000
Equipment lease expense 7,278,000 5,795,000 14,310,000 11,327,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge 3,141,000 3,788,000 8,397,000 8,162,000
Goodwill impairment 0 0 29,316,000 0
Loss on disposal of assets and other 2,524,000 1,414,000 17,441,000 2,375,000
Operating loss 93,813,000 111,965,000 46,313,000 102,647,000
Interest expense (34,730,000) (24,375,000) (68,518,000) (48,287,000)
Other income, net (298,000) (178,000) (420,000) (627,000)
Loss before income taxes 58,785,000 87,412,000 (22,625,000) 53,733,000
Income tax benefit 1,030,000 1,041,000 186,000 531,000
Net Earnings (Loss) 57,755,000 86,371,000 (22,811,000) 53,202,000
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest 628,000 913,000 (145,000) 619,000
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. 57,127,000 85,458,000 (22,666,000) 52,583,000
Less: General partner's interest in net earnings 571,000 11,955,000 227,000 (526,000)
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings $ 56,556,000 $ 73,503,000 $ (22,439,000) $ 52,057,000
Basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders' interest $ 0.58 $ 0.89 $ (0.23) $ 0.63
Cash distributions declared per common unit $ 0.5125 $ 0.50 $ 1.03 $ 1.00
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]        
Costs and expenses:        
General and administrative expense $ 0 $ 0 $ 50 $ 150
Net Earnings (Loss) 0 0 (50) (150)
Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]        
Revenues:        
Propane and other gas liquids sales 376,856,000 560,867,000 622,157,000 955,228,000
Midstream operations 188,333,000 7,153,000 382,003,000 15,069,000
Other 84,049,000 97,953,000 116,224,000 139,031,000
Total revenues 649,238,000 665,973,000 1,120,384,000 1,109,328,000
Costs and expenses:        
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales 174,829,000 330,692,000 296,580,000 595,506,000
Cost of sales - midstream operations 148,443,000 2,219,000 302,047,000 4,187,000
Cost of sales - other 55,774,000 68,071,000 70,222,000 89,963,000
Operating expense 115,997,000 107,214,000 232,196,000 213,645,000
Depreciation and amortization expense 37,367,000 23,943,000 74,346,000 47,252,000
General and administrative expense 9,674,000 10,872,000 28,818,000 34,267,000
Equipment lease expense 7,278,000 5,795,000 14,310,000 11,327,000
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge 3,141,000 3,788,000 8,397,000 8,162,000
Goodwill impairment 0 0 29,316,000 0
Loss on disposal of assets and other 2,524,000 1,414,000 17,441,000 2,375,000
Operating loss 94,211,000 111,965,000 46,711,000 102,644,000
Interest expense (30,701,000) (20,341,000) (60,459,000) (40,219,000)
Other income, net (298,000) (178,000) (420,000) (627,000)
Loss before income taxes 63,212,000 91,446,000 (14,168,000) 61,798,000
Income tax benefit 1,025,000 1,037,000 181,000 526,000
Net Earnings (Loss) 62,187,000 90,409,000 (14,349,000) 61,272,000
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. 62,187,000 90,409,000 (14,349,000) 61,272,000
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]        
Costs and expenses:        
General and administrative expense 41 3,400 3,091 3,560
Net Earnings (Loss) $ (41) $ (3,400) $ (3,091) $ (3,560)