CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND ACCUMULATED EARNINGS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member] General Partner [Member]	Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member] Limited Partners [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]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,119,620	$ 1,119,620	$ 12,477	$ 1,075,524	$ 9	$ 43,392	$ 545	$ 1,107,354	$ 27,266	$ (11,679)	$ (11,679)	$ (3,781)	$ 1,119,714	$ 1,119,714	$ (94)	$ (94)
Comprehensive income	55,963	55,963	461	45,524		1,844			47,829	8,079	8,079		55,908	55,908	55	55
Contributions from the Company related to employee stock purchase, stock option and other plans	2,130	2,130	21	2,109			1	1,572				557	2,130	2,130
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	(6)	(6)		(6)				(6)					(6)	(6)
Equity-based compensation	1,764	1,764	18	1,746				1,764					1,764	1,764
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(1,844)	(1,844)				(1,844)			(1,844)				(1,844)	(1,844)
Distributions to common unitholders ($0.25 per unit)	(31,665)	(31,665)	(317)	(31,348)					(31,665)				(31,665)	(31,665)
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	12,660	1,093,683	9	43,392	546	1,110,684	41,720	(3,600)	(3,600)	(3,224)	1,146,135	1,146,135	(153)	(153)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,152,731	1,152,731	12,715	1,100,259	9	43,392	546	1,111,861	66,138	(3,419)	(3,419)	(22,188)	1,152,947	1,152,947	(216)	(216)
Comprehensive income	60,610	60,610	603	59,508		1,844			61,955	(1,483)	(1,483)		60,472	60,472	138	138
Contributions from the Company related to employee stock purchase, stock option and other plans	2,948	2,948	29	2,919				(55)	(2,649)			5,652	2,948	2,948
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	(7)	(7)		(7)				(7)					(7)	(7)
Equity-based compensation	1,934	1,934	19	1,915				1,934					1,934	1,934
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(1,844)	(1,844)				(1,844)			(1,844)				(1,844)	(1,844)
Distributions to common unitholders ($0.25 per unit)	(41,313)	(41,313)	(414)	(40,899)					(41,313)				(41,313)	(41,313)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(68)	(68)													(68)	(68)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units	(1,057)	(1,057)		(1,057)					(1,057)				(1,057)	(1,057)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2014	$ 1,173,934	$ 1,173,934	$ 12,952	$ 1,122,638	$ 9	$ 43,392	$ 546	$ 1,113,733	$ 81,230	$ (4,902)	$ (4,902)	$ (16,536)	$ 1,174,080	$ 1,174,080	$ (146)	$ (146)