Operating Partnership Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Computation Of Basic And Diluted Net Income Per Share) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income	$ 22,322	$ 8,828	$ 65,357	$ 21,675
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(55)	(9)	(96)	(56)
Preferred unit distributions	(922)	(922)	(2,766)	(3,533)
Preferred unit redemption costs				(1,757)
Unvested restricted stock (allocation of earnings)	(50)	(25)	(144)	(51)
Net income available to common shareholders	21,235	7,847	62,176	16,224
Weighted average units outstanding - basic	54,115	50,651	53,661	49,862
Dilutive units from stock options	277	402	340	397
Weighted average units outstanding - diluted	54,392	51,053	54,001	50,259
Basic	$ 0.39	$ 0.15	$ 1.16	$ 0.33
Diluted	$ 0.39	$ 0.15	$ 1.15	$ 0.32
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income	22,322	8,828	65,357	21,675
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(55)	(9)	(96)	(56)
Preferred unit distributions	(922)	(922)	(2,766)	(3,533)
Preferred unit redemption costs				$ (1,757)
Weighted average units outstanding - basic	54,259	50,813	53,809	50,029
Weighted average units outstanding - diluted	54,536	51,215	54,149	50,426
Basic	$ 0.39	$ 0.15	$ 1.16	$ 0.33
Diluted	$ 0.39	$ 0.15	$ 1.15	$ 0.32
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	29	235	165	531