CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	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, 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)
Stock repurchases as part of an announced plan (in shares)		(3,190,000)
Retirement of shares returned from escrow	(1,479)	$ (1)	(1,478)
Retirement of shares returned from escrow (in shares)		(85,000)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest in consolidated variable interest entity	(4,054)		(4,054)
Dividends to common stockholders, dividends to preferred stockholders of subsidiary, 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 under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax (in shares)		138,000
Net income (loss) applicable to noncontrolling interest	15					15
Net income applicable to Piedmont	43,348			43,348
Other comprehensive income/ (loss)	(11,977)				(11,977)
Balance, value 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	154,324,089	154,324,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan	$ (158,860)	$ (90)		(158,770)
Stock repurchases as part of an announced plan (in shares)		(8,980,000)
Offering costs	(326)		(326)
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, dividends to preferred stockholders of subsidiary, and dividends reinvested	(126,531)		(242)	(126,274)		(15)
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax	3,183	$ 2	3,181
Shares issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax (in shares)		168,000
Net income (loss) applicable to noncontrolling interest	15					15
Net income applicable to Piedmont	172,990			172,990
Other comprehensive income/ (loss)	(6,640)				(6,640)
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 2,196,444	$ 1,455	3,669,977	(1,477,674)	1,661	1,025
Balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	145,511,644	145,512,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan	$ (7,943)	$ (5)		(7,938)
Stock repurchases as part of an announced plan (in shares)		(462,000)
Offering costs	(342)		(342)
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture	888					888
Dividends to common stockholders, dividends to preferred stockholders of subsidiary, and dividends reinvested	(122,148)		(173)	(121,959)		(16)
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax	$ 3,668	$ 2	3,666
Shares issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax (in shares)	185,169	185,000
Net income (loss) applicable to noncontrolling interest	$ (15)					(15)
Net income applicable to Piedmont	107,887			107,887
Other comprehensive income/ (loss)	443				443
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 2,178,882	$ 1,452	$ 3,673,128	$ (1,499,684)	$ 2,104	$ 1,882
Balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	145,235,313	145,235,000