Operating Partnership Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Computation Of Basic And Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income	$ 21,170	$ 9,834	$ 43,035	$ 12,847
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(35)	(58)	(41)	(47)
Preferred unit distributions	(922)	(922)	(1,844)	(2,611)
Preferred unit redemption costs				(1,757)
Unvested restricted stock (allocation of earnings)	(48)	(29)	(94)	(26)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	20,109	8,795	40,941	8,377
Weighted average units outstanding - basic	53,773	49,875	53,430	49,460
Dilutive units from stock options	323	391	369	394
Weighted average units outstanding - diluted	54,096	50,266	53,799	49,854
Basic	$ 0.37	$ 0.18	$ 0.77	$ 0.17
Diluted	$ 0.37	$ 0.17	$ 0.76	$ 0.17
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income	21,170	9,834	43,035	12,847
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(35)	(58)	(41)	(47)
Preferred unit distributions	(922)	(922)	(1,844)	(2,611)
Preferred unit redemption costs				(1,757)
Unvested restricted stock (allocation of earnings)	(48)	(29)	(94)	(26)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 20,165	$ 8,825	$ 41,056	$ 8,406
Weighted average units outstanding - basic	53,923	50,044	53,581	49,630
Dilutive units from stock options	323	391	369	394
Weighted average units outstanding - diluted	54,246	50,435	53,950	50,024
Basic	$ 0.37	$ 0.18	$ 0.77	$ 0.17
Diluted	$ 0.37	$ 0.17	$ 0.76	$ 0.17
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member] | Gross Antidilutive [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive stock options to purchase common stock	195	533	195	533