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]
Beginning 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	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 for shares	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)
Ending 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
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2012
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)	(922)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	1,094,873	1,094,873	9
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,119,620	1,119,620	9	43,392	545	1,107,354	27,266	(11,679)	(11,679)	(3,781)	1,119,714	1,119,714	(94)	(94)	12,477	1,075,524
Comprehensive income	55,963	55,963		1,844			47,829	8,079	8,079		55,908	55,908	55	55	461	45,524
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances	2,130	2,130			1	1,572				557	2,130	2,130			21	2,109
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	(6)	(6)				(6)					(6)	(6)				(6)
Stock-based compensation	1,764	1,764				1,764					1,764	1,764			18	1,746
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(1,844)	(1,844)		(1,844)			(1,844)				(1,844)	(1,844)
Distributions to common unitholders	(31,665)	(31,665)					(31,665)				(31,665)	(31,665)			(317)	(31,348)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(114)	(114)											(114)	(114)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units	134	134					134				134	134				134
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	1,145,982	1,145,982	9	43,392	546	1,110,684	41,720	(3,600)	(3,600)	(3,224)	1,146,135	1,146,135	(153)	(153)	12,660	1,093,683
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2013
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(922)	(922)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	$ 1,145,982	$ 1,145,982	$ 9