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 Partner [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, 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
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances	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)
Stock-based compensation	1,934	1,934	19	1,915				1,934					1,934	1,934
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(1,844)	(1,844)				(1,844)			(1,844)				(1,844)	(1,844)
Dividends to common shareholders ($0.84 and $0.76 per share for the year 2015 and 2014 respectively)	(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)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,285,960	1,285,960	14,057	1,232,186	9	43,392	546	1,114,851	185,001	(3,675)	(3,675)	(10,772)	1,285,960	1,285,960
Comprehensive income	38,760	38,760	378	37,331		1,844			39,553	(793)	(793)		38,760	38,760
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances	76	76	1	75				(26)	(390)			492	76	76
Stock-based compensation	2,625	2,625	26	2,599				2,625					2,625	2,625
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(1,844)	(1,844)				(1,844)			(1,844)				(1,844)	(1,844)
Dividends to common shareholders ($0.84 and $0.76 per share for the year 2015 and 2014 respectively)	(45,858)	(45,858)	(460)	(45,398)					(45,858)				(45,858)	(45,858)
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units	517	517		517					517				517	517
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2015	$ 1,280,236	$ 1,280,236	$ 14,002	$ 1,227,310	$ 9	$ 43,392	$ 546	$ 1,117,450	$ 176,979	$ (4,468)	$ (4,468)	$ (10,280)	$ 1,280,236	$ 1,280,236