Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Aug. 07, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Registrant Name	PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
Entity Central Index Key	0000077281
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity File Number	1-6300
Entity Tax Identification Number	23-6216339
Entity Address, Address Line One	One Commerce Square
Entity Address, Address Line One	2005 Market Street, Suite 1000
Entity Address, City or Town	Philadelphia
Entity Address, State or Province	PA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	19103
City Area Code	215
Local Phone Number	875-0700
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		79,485,428
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	PA
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $1.00 per share
Trading Symbol	PEI
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series B Preferred Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series B Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	PEIPrB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series C Preferred Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series C Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	PEIPrC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series D Preferred Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series D Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	PEIPrD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE