Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Common Stock Held in Trust	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 620,490	$ 102,787	$ 22	$ (1,896)	$ 516,167	$ (3,003)	$ (127,575)	$ 133,988
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(212,003)						(126,903)	(85,100)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(8,131)					(337)		(7,794)
Common dividends declared ($0.6375 per share in 2013, $0.375 per share in 2012, $0.30 per share in 2011)	(6,574)						(6,574)
Preferred dividends declared ($0.63 per share in 2013, $2.00 per share in 2012, $2.00 per share in 2011)	(10,052)						(10,052)
Share-based compensation	1,341				1,341
Issuance of 1,046,400 shares of 8.0% Series D Preferred stock	26,155	26,155
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees (11,432 shares in 2013, 26,047 shares in 2012, 17,636 shares in 2011)	198				198
Shares issued pursuant to TPG Management Services Agreement (26,098 shares in 2013, 18,399 shares in 2012)	0
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock (3365 in 2013, 12,169 shares in 2012, 19,133 shares in 2011) and deferred incentive share units (1,656 shares in 2011)	(397)				(397)
Contribution of common stock to deferred compensation plan (3,721 shares in 2012, 2,061 shares in 2011)	(37)			(37)
Distribution of common stock from deferred compensation plan (3,365 shares in 2013, 12,089 shares in 2012, 51,827 shares in 2011)	1,713			1,713
Issuance of operating partnership units (5,113,104 units in 2013, 1.8 million units in 2012)	0
Issuance of 4,451,461 shares of limited voting stock	0
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interests	287,501							287,501
Distribution of capital to noncontrolling interest	(43,546)							(43,546)
Reclassification of Partnership Operating Units	29							29
Sale of noncontrolling interest in Parkway Properties Office Fund, L.P. / Purchase of noncontrolling interest's share of office properties owned by Parkway Properties Office Fund II, L.P.	(26,650)							(26,650)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	630,037	128,942	22	(220)	517,309	(3,340)	(271,104)	258,428
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(42,981)						(39,395)	(3,586)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(3,364)					(1,085)		(2,279)
Common dividends declared ($0.6375 per share in 2013, $0.375 per share in 2012, $0.30 per share in 2011)	(14,570)						(14,570)
Preferred dividends declared ($0.63 per share in 2013, $2.00 per share in 2012, $2.00 per share in 2011)	(10,843)						(10,843)
Convertible preferred dividends declared - $0.075 per share	(1,011)						(1,011)
Share-based compensation	432				432
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees (11,432 shares in 2013, 26,047 shares in 2012, 17,636 shares in 2011)	263				263
Issuance of common stock (31,049,976 shares in 2013, 18,951,700 shares in 2012)	229,843		19		229,824
Shares issued pursuant to TPG Management Services Agreement (26,098 shares in 2013, 18,399 shares in 2012)	225				225
Conversion of 13,484,444 convertible preferred shares to common stock	141,173		13		141,160
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock (3365 in 2013, 12,169 shares in 2012, 19,133 shares in 2011) and deferred incentive share units (1,656 shares in 2011)	(173)				(173)
Contribution of common stock to deferred compensation plan (3,721 shares in 2012, 2,061 shares in 2011)	(38)			(38)
Distribution of common stock from deferred compensation plan (3,365 shares in 2013, 12,089 shares in 2012, 51,827 shares in 2011)	258			258
Issuance of operating partnership units (5,113,104 units in 2013, 1.8 million units in 2012)	18,216							18,216
Issuance of common stock upon redemption of operating partnership units (238,357 units in 2013, 1.8 million units in 2012)	0		2		18,214		(890)	(17,326)
Issuance of 4,451,461 shares of limited voting stock	0
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interests	17,447							17,447
Distribution of capital to noncontrolling interest	(729)							(729)
Sale of noncontrolling interest in Parkway Properties Office Fund, L.P. / Purchase of noncontrolling interest's share of office properties owned by Parkway Properties Office Fund II, L.P.	(8,179)							(8,179)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	956,006	128,942	56	0	907,254	(4,425)	(337,813)	261,992
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(12,037)						(19,650)	7,613
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	9,779					2,246		7,533
Common dividends declared ($0.6375 per share in 2013, $0.375 per share in 2012, $0.30 per share in 2011)	(42,007)						(41,838)	(169)
Preferred dividends declared ($0.63 per share in 2013, $2.00 per share in 2012, $2.00 per share in 2011)	(3,433)						(3,433)
Dividends on preferred stock redemption	(6,604)						(6,604)
Share-based compensation	5,725				5,725
Series D Preferred Stock redemption	(128,942)	(128,942)
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees (11,432 shares in 2013, 26,047 shares in 2012, 17,636 shares in 2011)	220				220
Issuance of common stock (31,049,976 shares in 2013, 18,951,700 shares in 2012)	540,499		31		540,468
Shares issued pursuant to TPG Management Services Agreement (26,098 shares in 2013, 18,399 shares in 2012)	450				450
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock (3365 in 2013, 12,169 shares in 2012, 19,133 shares in 2011) and deferred incentive share units (1,656 shares in 2011)	(49)				(49)
Issuance of operating partnership units (5,113,104 units in 2013, 1.8 million units in 2012)	96,409							96,409
Issuance of common stock upon redemption of operating partnership units (238,357 units in 2013, 1.8 million units in 2012)	0				4,302			(4,302)
Issuance of 4,451,461 shares of limited voting stock	4			4
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interests	34,230							34,230
Distribution of capital to noncontrolling interest	(29,267)							(29,267)
Sale of noncontrolling interest in Parkway Properties Office Fund, L.P. / Purchase of noncontrolling interest's share of office properties owned by Parkway Properties Office Fund II, L.P.	(85,462)				(30,344)			(55,118)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 1,335,521	$ 0	$ 87	$ 4	$ 1,428,026	$ (2,179)	$ (409,338)	$ 318,921