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	218,894	218,894	1,934	190,961		2,766			195,661	679	679		196,340	196,340	22,554	22,554
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances	3,817	3,817	38	3,779				(9)	(4,693)			8,519	3,817	3,817
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	(430)	(430)		(430)				(430)					(430)	(430)
Stock-based compensation	2,950	2,950	30	2,920				2,950					2,950	2,950
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(2,766)	(2,766)				(2,766)			(2,766)				(2,766)	(2,766)
Dividends to common shareholders ($1.28 and $1.16 per share for the year 2015 and 2014 respectively)	(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
Conversion of redeemable common units for shares	784	784		784				126				658	784	784
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	57,689	57,689	571	56,363		2,766			59,700	(2,011)	(2,011)		57,689	57,689
Employee stock purchase, stock option and other plan issuances	657	657	7	650				(9)	(566)			1,232	657	657
Adjustment for ownership interest of redeemable common units	54	54		54				54					54	54
Stock-based compensation	3,638	3,638	36	3,602				3,638					3,638	3,638
Acquisition of common units	(26,712)	(26,712)	(267)	(26,445)								(26,712)	(26,712)	(26,712)
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(2,766)	(2,766)				(2,766)			(2,766)				(2,766)	(2,766)
Dividends to common shareholders ($1.28 and $1.16 per share for the year 2015 and 2014 respectively)	(69,673)	(69,673)	(698)	(68,975)					(69,673)				(69,673)	(69,673)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	1,371	1,371													1,371	1,371
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable common units	(20)	(20)		(20)					(20)				(20)	(20)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 1,250,198	$ 1,250,198	$ 13,706	$ 1,197,415	$ 9	$ 43,392	$ 546	$ 1,118,534	$ 171,676	$ (5,686)	$ (5,686)	$ (36,252)	$ 1,248,827	$ 1,248,827	$ 1,371	$ 1,371