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	73,607	73,607	642	63,395		2,766			66,803	6,717	6,717		73,520	73,520	87	87
Contributions from the Company related to employee stock purchase, stock option and other plans	3,306	3,306	33	3,273			1	1,527				1,778	3,306	3,306
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	42	42		42				42					42	42
Equity-based compensation	2,715	2,715	27	2,688				2,715					2,715	2,715
Acquisition of treasury stock/common units	(20,064)	(20,064)	(201)	(19,863)								(20,064)	(20,064)	(20,064)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(2,766)	(2,766)				(2,766)			(2,766)				(2,766)	(2,766)
Dividends to common shareholders ($ per share)	(49,550)	(49,550)	(497)	(49,053)					(49,550)				(49,550)	(49,550)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(173)	(173)													(173)	(173)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units	725	725		725					725				725	725
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	1,127,462	1,127,462	12,481	1,076,731	9	43,392	546	1,111,638	42,478	(4,962)	(4,962)	(22,067)	1,127,642	1,127,642	(180)	(180)
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	218,894	218,894	1,934	190,961		2,766			195,661	679	679		196,340	196,340	22,554	22,554
Contributions from the Company related to employee stock purchase, stock option and other plans	3,817	3,817	38	3,779				(9)	(4,693)			8,519	3,817	3,817
Conversion of redeemable common units	784	784		784				126				658	784	784
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	(430)	(430)		(430)				(430)					(430)	(430)
Equity-based compensation	2,950	2,950	30	2,920				2,950					2,950	2,950
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(2,766)	(2,766)				(2,766)			(2,766)				(2,766)	(2,766)
Dividends to common shareholders ($ per share)	(63,097)	(63,097)	(632)	(62,465)					(63,097)				(63,097)	(63,097)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(22,338)	(22,338)													(22,338)	(22,338)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units	(101)	(101)		(101)					(101)				(101)	(101)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 1,290,444	$ 1,290,444	$ 14,085	$ 1,235,707	$ 9	$ 43,392	$ 546	$ 1,114,498	$ 191,142	$ (2,740)	$ (2,740)	$ (13,011)	$ 1,290,444	$ 1,290,444