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		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income	$ 27,614	$ 21,170	$ 48,004	$ 43,035
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(58)	(35)	(55)	(41)
Preferred unit distributions	(922)	(922)	(1,844)	(1,844)
Net income available to common shareholders	26,505	20,109	45,886	40,941
Weighted average units outstanding - basic	54,464	53,773	54,450	53,430
Dilutive units from stock options	194	323	198	369
Weighted average units outstanding - diluted	54,658	54,096	54,648	53,799
Basic	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.84	$ 0.77
Diluted	$ 0.48	$ 0.37	$ 0.84	$ 0.76
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income	27,614	21,170	48,004	43,035
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(58)	(35)	(55)	(41)
Preferred unit distributions	(922)	(922)	(1,844)	(1,844)
Unvested restricted stock (allocation of earnings)	(61)	(48)	(99)	(94)
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 26,573	$ 20,165	$ 46,006	$ 41,056
Weighted average units outstanding - basic	54,607	53,923	54,593	53,581
Dilutive units from stock options	194	323	198	369
Weighted average units outstanding - diluted	54,801	54,246	54,791	53,950
Basic	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.84	$ 0.77
Diluted	$ 0.48	$ 0.37	$ 0.84	$ 0.76