The aggregate amount of development expenses that were capitalized by the Company during the period.

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Number of shares for redemption of each common unit.

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Operating leases revenue recognition term.

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Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.

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For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

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Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

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Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Amount of interest capitalized during the period.

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Term of the lessor's leasing arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

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The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

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The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

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The number of units of other ownership interests outstanding in a limited partnership or master limited partnership. Does not include limited or general partners' ownership interests.

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Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Apartment Property Agreement shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units in real estate property \| Apartment	24,162
Number of real estate properties	61
Common stock, shares outstanding \| shares	54,012,000	54,509,000
Common units held by persons other than the Company \| shares	121,000
Number of shares for redemption of each common unit \| shares	1
Operating leases term (in years)	1 year
Revenue recognized lease (in years)	1 year
Aggregate interest costs capitalized to projects under development or construction \| $	$ 4,534	$ 3,115	$ 3,962
Development or construction costs \| $	$ 4,903	$ 2,794	$ 2,900
Buildings and Components [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Estimated useful life (in years)	40 years
Other Building and Land Improvements [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Estimated useful life (in years)	20 years
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Estimated useful life (in years)	5 years
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Estimated useful life (in years)	10 years
Noncontrolling Owners [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	0.20%
Post Apartment Homes, L.P. [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Ownership interest percentage in Operating Partnership	99.80%	99.80%	99.70%
Operating Communities [Member] \| Atlanta, Georgia [Member] \| Geographic Concentration Risk [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Concentration of location for communities, percentage	30.20%
Operating Communities [Member] \| Dallas, Texas [Member] \| Geographic Concentration Risk [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Concentration of location for communities, percentage	21.60%
Operating Communities [Member] \| Washington, D.C. [Member] \| Geographic Concentration Risk [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Concentration of location for communities, percentage	13.30%
Operating Communities [Member] \| Tampa, Florida [Member] \| Geographic Concentration Risk [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Concentration of location for communities, percentage	10.70%
Unconsolidated Properties [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units in real estate property \| Agreement	1,471
Number of real estate properties	4
Unconsolidated Properties [Member] \| Atlanta, Georgia [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	3
Unconsolidated Properties [Member] \| Washington, D.C. [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	1
Under Development [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of units in real estate property \| Agreement	2,630
Number of real estate properties	7
Cost Capitalization [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Weighted average borrowing costs, percentage	4.30%	4.60%	4.60%
Residential Leases [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Average remaining lease term	6 months
Residential Leases [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Average remaining lease term	12 months
Retail Leases [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Average remaining lease term	5 years
Retail Leases [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Average remaining lease term	10 years