Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Cumulative Distributions in Excess of Earnings [Member]	Other Comprehensive Income/ (Loss) [Member]	Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 2,773,454	$ 1,727	$ 3,661,308	$ (895,122)	$ (691)	$ 6,232
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		172,658,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan	(3,244)	(2)		(3,242)
Stock repurchases as part of an announced plan (in shares)		(199,000)
Offering costs associated with issuance of common stock	(479)		(479)
Attribution of asset sales proceeds to noncontrolling interest	(2,684)					(2,684)
Dividends to common stockholders, distributions to noncontrolling interest, and dividends reinvested	(220,365)		(249)	(217,709)		(2,407)
Shares issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax	3,083	1	3,082
Shares issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax, shares		171,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	468					468
Net income attributable to Piedmont	225,041			225,041
Other comprehensive income	(1,846)				(1,846)
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2011	2,773,428	1,726	3,663,662	(891,032)	(2,537)	1,609
Balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		172,630,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan	(88,737)	(52)		(88,685)
Stock repurchases as part of an announced plan (in shares)		(5,255,000)
Offering costs associated with issuance of common stock	567		567
Dividends to common stockholders, distributions to noncontrolling interest, and dividends reinvested	(136,378)		(195)	(136,168)		(15)
Shares issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax	3,019	2	3,017
Shares issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax, shares		181,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	15					15
Net income attributable to Piedmont	93,204			93,204
Other comprehensive income	(4,623)				(4,623)
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2012	2,640,495	1,676	3,667,051	(1,022,681)	(7,160)	1,609
Balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	167,556,001	167,556,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan	(175,269)	(102)		(175,167)
Stock repurchases as part of an announced plan (in shares)		(10,246,000)
Offering costs associated with issuance of common stock	(91)		(91)
Dividends to common stockholders, distributions to noncontrolling interest, and dividends reinvested	(132,301)		(197)	(132,089)		(15)
Shares issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax	2,144	1	2,143
Shares issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax, shares	150,852	151,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	15					15
Net income attributable to Piedmont	98,728			98,728
Other comprehensive income	27,438				27,438
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 2,461,159	$ 1,575	$ 3,668,906	$ (1,231,209)	$ 20,278	$ 1,609
Balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	157,460,903	157,461,000