Consolidated Statements Of Equity And Accumulated Earnings (USD $) In Thousands	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member] Preferred Stock [Member]	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member] General Partner [Member]	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member] Limited Partner [Member]	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member] Total Company Equity [Member]	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member] Noncontrolling Interests - Consolidated Real Estate Entities [Member]	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total Company Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests - Consolidated Real Estate Entities [Member]	Total
Equity & Accum. Earnings, at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 92,963	$ 10,354	$ 863,773		$ 967,090	$ 205	$ 967,295	$ 29	$ 489	$ 965,691	$ 4,577		$ (3,696)	$ 967,090	$ 205	$ 967,295
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,689	13	1,323		3,025	(11)	3,014				3,025			3,025	(11)	3,014
Sales of common stock, net		155	15,345		15,500		15,500		4	15,496				15,500		15,500
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances		119	11,823		11,942		11,942		4	11,523			415	11,942		11,942
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units			(5)		(5)		(5)			(5)				(5)		(5)
Redemption of preferred stock	(49,571)		(62)		(49,633)		(49,633)	(20)		(49,613)				(49,633)		(49,633)
Stock-based compensation		7	668		675		675			675				675		675
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(1,689)				(1,689)		(1,689)				(1,689)			(1,689)		(1,689)
Dividends to common shareholders		(100)	(9,843)		(9,943)		(9,943)			(4,030)	(5,913)			(9,943)		(9,943)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities						(66)	(66)								(66)	(66)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units			(531)		(531)		(531)			(531)				(531)		(531)
Equity & Accum. Earnings, at Mar. 31, 2011	43,392	10,548	882,491		936,431	128	936,559	9	497	939,206			(3,281)	936,431	128	936,559
Equity & Accum. Earnings, at Dec. 31, 2011	43,392	11,662	995,097	(2,633)	1,047,518	5	1,047,523	9	530	1,053,612		(2,633)	(4,000)	1,047,518	5	1,047,523
Comprehensive income (loss)	922	209	20,669	1	21,801	6	21,807				21,800	1		21,801	6	21,807
Sales of common stock, net		140	13,842		13,982		13,982		3	13,979				13,982		13,982
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances		87	8,572		8,659		8,659		3	8,234			422	8,659		8,659
Conversion of redeemable common units for shares			222		222		222			83			139	222		222
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units			(184)		(184)		(184)			(184)				(184)		(184)
Stock-based compensation		7	708		715		715			715				715		715
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)				(922)		(922)				(922)			(922)		(922)
Dividends to common shareholders		(118)	(11,686)		(11,804)		(11,804)				(11,804)			(11,804)		(11,804)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities						(61)	(61)								(61)	(61)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units			(256)		(256)		(256)				(256)			(256)		(256)
Equity & Accum. Earnings, at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 43,392	$ 11,987	$ 1,026,984	$ (2,632)	$ 1,079,731	$ (50)	$ 1,079,681	$ 9	$ 536	$ 1,076,439	$ 8,818	$ (2,632)	$ (3,439)	$ 1,079,731	$ (50)	$ 1,079,681