CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND ACCUMULATED EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member] Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total Company Equity [Member]	Total Company Equity [Member] Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests - Consolidated Real Estate Entities [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests - Consolidated Real Estate Entities [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]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 967,295	$ 967,295	$ 29	$ 92,963	$ 489	$ 965,691	$ 4,577			$ (3,696)	$ 967,090	$ 967,090	$ 205	$ 205	$ 10,354	$ 863,773
Comprehensive income (loss)	12,818	12,818		2,611			12,771				12,771	12,771	47	47	102	10,058
Sales of common stock, net	38,233	38,233			10	38,223					38,233	38,233			382	37,851
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances	14,488	14,488			5	14,113				370	14,488	14,488			145	14,343
Conversion of redeemable common units	321	321				321					321	321				321
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	(225)	(225)				(225)					(225)	(225)				(225)
Redemption of preferred stock	(49,633)	(49,633)	(20)	(49,571)		(49,613)					(49,633)	(49,633)				(62)
Stock-based compensation	1,273	1,273				1,273					1,273	1,273			13	1,260
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(2,611)	(2,611)		(2,611)			(2,611)				(2,611)	(2,611)
Distributions to common unitholders	(20,034)	(20,034)				(5,297)	(14,737)				(20,034)	(20,034)			(201)	(19,833)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(133)	(133)											(133)	(133)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units	(564)	(564)				(564)					(564)	(564)				(564)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	961,228	961,228	9	43,392	504	963,922				(3,326)	961,109	961,109	119	119	10,795	906,922
Balance at Mar. 31, 2011
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)	(922)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	961,228	961,228
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	1,047,523	1,047,523	9	43,392	530	1,053,612		(2,633)	(2,633)	(4,000)	1,047,518	1,047,518	5	5	11,662	995,097
Comprehensive income (loss)	35,674	35,674		1,844			42,879	(7,246)	(7,246)		35,633	35,633	41	41	411	40,624
Sales of common stock, net	18,625	18,625			4	18,621					18,625	18,625			186	18,439
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances	19,067	19,067			7	18,302				758	19,067	19,067			191	18,876
Conversion of redeemable common units	591	591				438				153	591	591				591
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	(382)	(382)				(382)					(382)	(382)				(382)
Stock-based compensation	1,423	1,423				1,423					1,423	1,423			14	1,409
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(1,844)	(1,844)		(1,844)			(1,844)				(1,844)	(1,844)
Distributions to common unitholders	(25,331)	(25,331)					(25,331)				(25,331)	(25,331)			(254)	(25,077)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(118)	(118)											(118)	(118)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units	(355)	(355)					(355)				(355)	(355)				(355)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	1,094,873	1,094,873	9	43,392	541	1,092,014	15,349	(9,879)	(9,879)	(3,089)	1,094,945	1,094,945	(72)	(72)	12,210	1,049,222
Balance at Mar. 31, 2012
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)	(922)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 1,094,873	$ 1,094,873	$ 9