Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	BASIS OF PRESENTATION Nature of Operations Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (“PREIT” or the “Company”) prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although we believe that the included disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Our unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in PREIT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position, the consolidated results of our operations, consolidated statements of other comprehensive income (loss), consolidated statements of equity and our consolidated statements of cash flows are included. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. PREIT, a Pennsylvania business trust founded in 1960 and one of the first equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) in the United States, has a primary investment focus on retail shopping malls located in the eastern half of the United States, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. As of March 31, 2015, our portfolio consisted of a total of 43 properties in 12 states, including 32 operating shopping malls, six other retail properties, four development properties and one property under redevelopment (The Gallery at Market East), with two of the development properties classified as “mixed use” (a combination of retail and other uses), one of the properties classified as “other retail” (outlet) and one of the development properties classified as “other.” We hold our interest in our portfolio of properties through our operating partnership, PREIT Associates, L.P. (“PREIT Associates” or the “Operating Partnership”). We are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of March 31, 2015, we held an 89.2% controlling interest in the Operating Partnership, and consolidated it for reporting purposes. The presentation of consolidated financial statements does not itself imply that the assets of any consolidated entity (including any special-purpose entity formed for a particular project) are available to pay the liabilities of any other consolidated entity, or that the liabilities of any consolidated entity (including any special-purpose entity formed for a particular project) are obligations of any other consolidated entity. Pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, each of the limited partners has the right to redeem such partner’s units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) for cash or, at our election, we may acquire such OP Units in exchange for our common shares on a one-for-one basis, in some cases beginning one year following the respective issue dates of the OP Units and in other cases immediately. If all of the outstanding OP Units held by limited partners had been redeemed for cash as of March 31, 2015, the total amount that would have been distributed would have been $194.5 million, which is calculated using our March 31, 2015 closing price on the New York Stock Exchange of $23.23 per share multiplied by the number of outstanding OP Units held by limited partners, which was 8,372,215 as of March 31, 2015. We provide management, leasing and real estate development services through two of our subsidiaries: PREIT Services, LLC (“PREIT Services”), which generally develops and manages properties that we consolidate for financial reporting purposes, and PREIT-RUBIN, Inc. (“PRI”), which generally develops and manages properties that we do not consolidate for financial reporting purposes, including properties owned by partnerships in which we own an interest and properties that are owned by third parties in which we do not have an interest. PREIT Services and PRI are consolidated. PRI is a taxable REIT subsidiary, as defined by federal tax laws, which means that it is able to offer an expanded menu of services to tenants without jeopardizing our continuing qualification as a REIT under federal tax law. We evaluate operating results and allocate resources on a property-by-property basis, and do not distinguish or evaluate our consolidated operations on a geographic basis. Due to the nature of our operating properties, which involve retail shopping, we have concluded that our individual properties have similar economic characteristics and meet all other aggregation criteria. Accordingly, we have aggregated our individual properties into one reportable segment. In addition, no single tenant accounts for 10% or more of consolidated revenue, and none of our properties are located outside the United States. Fair Value Fair value accounting applies to reported balances that are required or permitted to be measured at fair value under existing accounting pronouncements. Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, these accounting requirements establish a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy). Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs might include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. We utilize the fair value hierarchy in our accounting for derivatives (Level 2) and financial instruments (Level 2) and in our reviews for impairment of real estate assets (Level 3) and goodwill (Level 3). New Accounting Developments In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” The objective of this new standard is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The core principle of this new standard is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 for public companies. Early adoption is not permitted. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified approach to adopt this standard. We are currently evaluating the new guidance and have not determined the impact this standard might have on our consolidated financial statements, nor have we decided upon the method of adoption.
Nature of Operations	Nature of Operations Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (“PREIT” or the “Company”) prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although we believe that the included disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Our unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in PREIT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position, the consolidated results of our operations, consolidated statements of other comprehensive income (loss), consolidated statements of equity and our consolidated statements of cash flows are included. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. PREIT, a Pennsylvania business trust founded in 1960 and one of the first equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) in the United States, has a primary investment focus on retail shopping malls located in the eastern half of the United States, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. As of March 31, 2015, our portfolio consisted of a total of 43 properties in 12 states, including 32 operating shopping malls, six other retail properties, four development properties and one property under redevelopment (The Gallery at Market East), with two of the development properties classified as “mixed use” (a combination of retail and other uses), one of the properties classified as “other retail” (outlet) and one of the development properties classified as “other.” We hold our interest in our portfolio of properties through our operating partnership, PREIT Associates, L.P. (“PREIT Associates” or the “Operating Partnership”). We are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of March 31, 2015, we held an 89.2% controlling interest in the Operating Partnership, and consolidated it for reporting purposes. The presentation of consolidated financial statements does not itself imply that the assets of any consolidated entity (including any special-purpose entity formed for a particular project) are available to pay the liabilities of any other consolidated entity, or that the liabilities of any consolidated entity (including any special-purpose entity formed for a particular project) are obligations of any other consolidated entity. Pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, each of the limited partners has the right to redeem such partner’s units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) for cash or, at our election, we may acquire such OP Units in exchange for our common shares on a one-for-one basis, in some cases beginning one year following the respective issue dates of the OP Units and in other cases immediately. If all of the outstanding OP Units held by limited partners had been redeemed for cash as of March 31, 2015, the total amount that would have been distributed would have been $194.5 million, which is calculated using our March 31, 2015 closing price on the New York Stock Exchange of $23.23 per share multiplied by the number of outstanding OP Units held by limited partners, which was 8,372,215 as of March 31, 2015. We provide management, leasing and real estate development services through two of our subsidiaries: PREIT Services, LLC (“PREIT Services”), which generally develops and manages properties that we consolidate for financial reporting purposes, and PREIT-RUBIN, Inc. (“PRI”), which generally develops and manages properties that we do not consolidate for financial reporting purposes, including properties owned by partnerships in which we own an interest and properties that are owned by third parties in which we do not have an interest. PREIT Services and PRI are consolidated. PRI is a taxable REIT subsidiary, as defined by federal tax laws, which means that it is able to offer an expanded menu of services to tenants without jeopardizing our continuing qualification as a REIT under federal tax law. We evaluate operating results and allocate resources on a property-by-property basis, and do not distinguish or evaluate our consolidated operations on a geographic basis. Due to the nature of our operating properties, which involve retail shopping, we have concluded that our individual properties have similar economic characteristics and meet all other aggregation criteria. Accordingly, we have aggregated our individual properties into one reportable segment. In addition, no single tenant accounts for 10% or more of consolidated revenue, and none of our properties are located outside the United States.
Fair Value	Fair Value Fair value accounting applies to reported balances that are required or permitted to be measured at fair value under existing accounting pronouncements. Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, these accounting requirements establish a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy). Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs might include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. We utilize the fair value hierarchy in our accounting for derivatives (Level 2) and financial instruments (Level 2) and in our reviews for impairment of real estate assets (Level 3) and goodwill (Level 3).
New Accounting Developments	New Accounting Developments In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” The objective of this new standard is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The core principle of this new standard is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 for public companies. Early adoption is not permitted. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified approach to adopt this standard. We are currently evaluating the new guidance and have not determined the impact this standard might have on our consolidated financial statements, nor have we decided upon the method of adoption.

Disclosure of accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example, common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. The accounting policy may also address the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.

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