Sum of a) Equity impact of aggregate cash, stock, and paid-in-kind dividends declared for all securities (common shares, preferred shares, etc.) during the period, b) Decrease in noncontrolling interest balance from payment of dividends or other distributions by the non-wholly owned subsidiary or partially owned entity, included in the consolidation of the parent entity, to the noncontrolling interest holders, and c) Value of stock issued during the period from a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP). A dividend reinvestment plan allows the holder of the stock to reinvest dividends paid to them by the entity on new issues of stock or stock purchased and reissued by the entity.

No definition available.

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 Loss [Member]	Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Balance 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		157,461,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan	(52,796)	(32)		(52,764)
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan, shares		(3,190,000)
Retirement of shares returned from escrow	(1,479)	(1)	(1,478)
Retirement of shares returned from escrow, shares		(85,000)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest in consolidated variable interest entity	(4,054)		(4,054)
Dividends to common stockholders ($0.81 (YTD 2014) and $0.21 (YTD 2015) per share), distributions to noncontrolling interest, and dividends reinvested	(125,198)		(188)	(124,995)		(15)
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax	2,997	1	2,996
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax (in shares)		138,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	15					15
Net income attributable to Piedmont	43,348us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss			43,348
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(11,977)				(11,977)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	2,312,015	1,543	3,666,182	(1,365,620)	8,301	1,609
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	154,324,089us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding	154,324,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan	0	0		0
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan, shares		0
Offering costs	(285)		(285)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest in consolidated variable interest entity	54		54
Reallocation of noncontrolling interest of subsidiary	544		1,128			(584)
Dividends to common stockholders ($0.81 (YTD 2014) and $0.21 (YTD 2015) per share), distributions to noncontrolling interest, and dividends reinvested	(32,477)		(66)	(32,411)
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax	561		561
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax (in shares)		16,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	4					4
Net income attributable to Piedmont	19,245us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss			19,245
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(13,738)				(13,738)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	$ 2,285,923	$ 1,543	$ 3,667,574	$ (1,378,786)	$ (5,437)	$ 1,029
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2015	154,339,507us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding	154,340,000