Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues (other than gains)	$ 77,465,000	$ 73,325,000	$ 72,623,000	$ 68,165,000	$ 57,357,000	$ 55,967,000	$ 50,505,000	$ 46,667,000	$ 291,578,000	$ 210,496,000	$ 147,297,000
Expenses	(82,226,000)	(73,445,000)	(67,047,000)	(62,372,000)	(100,407,000)	(48,397,000)	(44,813,000)	(42,175,000)	(285,090,000)	(235,792,000)	(156,382,000)
Operating income (loss)	(4,761,000)	(120,000)	5,576,000	5,793,000	(43,050,000)	7,570,000	5,692,000	4,492,000	6,488,000	(25,296,000)	(9,085,000)
Interest and other income	1,618,000	434,000	82,000	102,000	67,000	64,000	44,000	97,000	2,236,000	272,000	938,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures	(294,000)	393,000	79,000	0					178,000	0	57,000
Interest expense	(12,610,000)	(11,521,000)	(11,162,000)	(10,329,000)	(8,892,000)	(8,378,000)	(8,394,000)	(8,688,000)	(45,622,000)	(34,352,000)	(29,929,000)
Gain on sale of real estate					0	48,000	0	0	0	48,000	743,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	(305,000)	819,000	384,000	507,000	(118,000)	7,000	11,000	(161,000)	1,405,000	(261,000)	(56,000)
Recovery of loss on mortgage loan receivable					0	500,000	0	0
Loss from continuing operations	(16,352,000)	(9,995,000)	(5,041,000)	(3,927,000)	(51,993,000)	(189,000)	(2,647,000)	(4,260,000)	(35,315,000)	(59,089,000)	(37,332,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,684,000)	(4,863,000)	(3,628,000)	960,000	(1,976,000)	410,000	724,000	4,012,000	(9,215,000)	3,170,000	(192,496,000)
Gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations	20,406,000	11,545,000	0	542,000	3,171,000	995,000	3,197,000	5,575,000	32,493,000	12,938,000	17,825,000
Total discontinued operations	18,722,000	6,682,000	(3,628,000)	1,502,000	1,195,000	1,405,000	3,921,000	9,587,000	23,278,000	16,108,000	(174,671,000)
Net income (loss)	2,370,000	(3,313,000)	(8,669,000)	(2,425,000)	(50,798,000)	1,216,000	1,274,000	5,327,000	(12,037,000)	(42,981,000)	(212,003,000)
Noncontrolling interests	(10,927,000)	1,007,000	1,050,000	1,257,000	(1,796,000)	(913,000)	(1,499,000)	622,000	(7,904,000)	3,317,000	85,105,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Parkway Properties, Inc.	(8,557,000)	(2,306,000)	(7,619,000)	(1,168,000)	(49,002,000)	2,129,000	2,773,000	4,705,000	(19,650,000)	(39,395,000)	(126,903,000)
Dividends on preferred stock	0	0	(722,000)	(2,711,000)	(2,711,000)	(2,711,000)	(2,710,000)	(2,711,000)	(3,433,000)	(10,843,000)	(10,052,000)
Dividends on convertible preferred stock							(1,011,000)		0	(1,011,000)	0
Dividends on preferred stock redemption			(6,604,000)						(6,604,000)	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	(8,557,000)	(2,306,000)	(14,945,000)	(3,879,000)	(51,713,000)	(582,000)	(948,000)	1,994,000	(29,687,000)	(51,249,000)	(136,955,000)
Basic:
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Parkway Properties, Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.09)	$ (1.19)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.19)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ 0.09	$ (0.05)	$ 0.02	$ 0.03	$ 0.02	$ 0.15	$ 0.28
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Parkway Properties, Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.22)	$ (0.07)	$ (1.16)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.09
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.15	$ 0.15	$ 0.1875	$ 0.1125	$ 0.1125	$ 0.075	$ 0.075	$ 0.6375	$ 0.375	$ 0.30
Diluted:
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Parkway Properties, Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.09)	$ (1.19)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.19)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ 0.09	$ (0.05)	$ 0.02	$ 0.03	$ 0.02	$ 0.15	$ 0.28
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Parkway Properties, Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.22)	$ (0.07)	$ (1.16)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.09
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	71,221	68,564	68,526	56,849	44,476	36,487	23,440	21,568	66,336	31,542	21,497
Diluted	71,221	68,564	68,526	56,849	44,476	36,487	23,440	21,568	66,336	31,542	21,497
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]
Revenues (other than gains)		74,576,000	76,078,000	72,112,000		59,589,000	55,077,000	51,287,000
Loss from continuing operations		(15,063,000)	(4,282,000)	(2,620,000)		551,000	(1,259,000)	(3,520,000)
Total discontinued operations		11,750,000	(4,387,000)	195,000		665,000	2,533,000	8,847,000
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Revenues (other than gains)		(1,251,000)	(3,455,000)	(3,947,000)		(3,622,000)	(4,572,000)	(4,620,000)
Loss from continuing operations		5,068,000	(759,000)	(1,307,000)		(740,000)	(1,388,000)	(740,000)
Total discontinued operations		$ (5,068,000)	$ 759,000	$ 1,307,000		$ 740,000	$ 1,388,000	$ 740,000