Operating Partnership Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Computation Of Basic And Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income	$ 21,865	$ 3,013
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(6)	11
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)	(1,689)
Preferred stock redemption costs		(1,757)
Unvested restricted stock (allocation of earnings)	(46)	2
Net income (loss) available to common unit holders	(20,832)	419
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic	53,087,000	49,041,000
Dilutive shares from stock options	406,000
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	53,493,000	49,041,000
Per-share amount: Basic	$ 0.39	$ (0.01)
Per-share amount: Diluted	$ 0.39	$ (0.01)
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income	21,865	3,013
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(6)	11
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)	(1,689)
Preferred stock redemption costs		(1,757)
Unvested restricted stock (allocation of earnings)	(46)	2
Net income (loss) available to common unit holders	$ (20,891)	$ 420
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic	53,239,000	49,212,000
Dilutive shares from stock options	406,000
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	53,645,000	49,212,000
Per-share amount: Basic	$ 0.39	$ (0.01)
Per-share amount: Diluted	$ 0.39	$ (0.01)
Gross Antidilutive [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive stock options to purchase common stock	264,000	1,705,000
Gross Antidilutive [Member] | Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive stock options to purchase common stock	264	1,705,000