Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 joint_venture		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number Of Unconsolidated Joint Venture Partnerships	3
Amortization expense related to Intangible Lease Origination Costs and Absorption Period Costs:	$ 48,013,000		$ 34,660,000	$ 47,188,000
Amortization of Above-Market and Below-Market In-Place Lease intangibles as a net increase to rental revenues:	7,065,000		5,788,000	5,394,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Recoveries	(400,000)			(200,000)
Provision for Doubtful Accounts			800,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs and fair market value adjustments on notes payable	3,200,000		2,600,000	2,800,000
Amortization of deferred lease costs	30,000,000		26,800,000	32,600,000
Amortization of Lease Incentive	3,700,000		3,400,000	3,400,000
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)	1,400,000		0	0
Shares-in-trust, shares authorized (in shares)	150,000,000		150,000,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	100,000,000		100,000,000
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	750,000,000		750,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount	300,000,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares	199,400
Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Shareholders Discount	2.00%
Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
Real Estate Investment Trust Status Required Taxable Income Distribution Rate	90.00%
Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
Original Maturity Of Investments Accounted For As Cash Equivalents	3 months
Building [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average	40
Building Improvements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum	5
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum	25
Land Improvements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum	20
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum	25
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum	3
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum	5
Piedmont Office Holdings, Inc [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	6,000
Consolidated Joint Venture [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of Real Estate Properties	3
Unconsolidated Joint Venture [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of Real Estate Properties	5
Above-Market In-Place Lease Assets [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	33,707,000		49,233,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2012	2,554,000
2013	1,772,000
2014	1,581,000
2015	1,479,000
2016	1,418,000
Thereafter	1,094,000
Total	9,898,000
Weighted-Average Amortization Period (in years)	5
Absorption Period Costs [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	164,960,000		170,537,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2012	19,781,000
2013	8,853,000
2014	7,401,000
2015	7,087,000
2016	6,687,000
Thereafter	19,541,000
Total	69,350,000
Weighted-Average Amortization Period (in years)	7
Lease Origination Costs [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	146,375,000		164,782,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2012	12,746,000	[1]
2013	9,985,000	[1]
2014	8,499,000	[1]
2015	7,901,000	[1]
2016	7,476,000	[1]
Thereafter	26,729,000	[1]
Total	73,336,000	[1]
Weighted-Average Amortization Period (in years)	9
Below Market Leases [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Liabilities, Gross	113,018,000		133,267,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2012	8,210,000
2013	6,201,000
2014	5,290,000
2015	4,776,000
2016	4,723,000
Thereafter	19,837,000
Total	49,037,000
Weighted-Average Amortization Period (in years)	8
Common Area Maintenance Costs [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
Amortization of deferred lease costs	$ 1,300,000		$ 700,000	$ 700,000

[1] Intangible lease origination costs are presented as a component of deferred lease costs on Piedmont’s accompanying consolidated balance sheets.