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]	Accumulated 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 Partners [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)	21,621	21,621		3,533			21,565				21,565	21,565	56	56	181	17,851
Sales of common stock, net	91,722	91,722			23	91,612				87	91,722	91,722			917	90,805
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances	17,178	17,178			6	16,894				278	17,178	17,178			172	17,006
Conversion of redeemable common units	527	527				527					527	527				527
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	(414)	(414)				(414)					(414)	(414)				(414)
Redemption of preferred stock	(49,633)	(49,633)	(20)	(49,571)		(49,613)					(49,633)	(49,633)				(62)
Stock-based compensation	1,867	1,867				1,867					1,867	1,867			19	1,848
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(3,533)	(3,533)		(3,533)			(3,533)				(3,533)	(3,533)
Dividends to common shareholders	(31,447)	(31,447)				(8,838)	(22,609)				(31,447)	(31,447)			(315)	(31,132)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests-consolidated real estate entities	(200)	(200)											(200)	(200)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units	584	584				584					584	584				584
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	1,015,567	1,015,567	9	43,392	518	1,018,310				(3,331)	1,015,506	1,015,506	61	61	11,328	960,786
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)	(922)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	1,015,567	1,015,567
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)	55,201	55,201		2,766			65,086	(9,981)	(9,981)		55,105	55,105	96	96	625	61,695
Sales of common stock, net	25,457	25,457			6	25,451					25,457	25,457			255	25,202
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances	24,350	24,350			9	23,600				741	24,350	24,350			244	24,106
Conversion of redeemable common units	591	591				438				153	591	591				591
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	(409)	(409)				(409)					(409)	(409)				(409)
Stock-based compensation	2,089	2,089				2,089					2,089	2,089			21	2,068
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(2,766)	(2,766)		(2,766)			(2,766)				(2,766)	(2,766)
Dividends to common shareholders	(38,934)	(38,934)					(38,934)				(38,934)	(38,934)			(390)	(38,544)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests-consolidated real estate entities	(176)	(176)											(176)	(176)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units	(167)	(167)					(167)				(167)	(167)				(167)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	1,112,759	1,112,759	9	43,392	545	1,104,781	23,219	(12,614)	(12,614)	(3,106)	1,112,834	1,112,834	(75)	(75)	12,417	1,069,639
Balance at Jul. 02, 2012
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)	(922)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 1,112,759	$ 1,112,759	$ 9