CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Cumulative Distributions in Excess of Earnings	Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)	Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		145,235,000
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 2,097,703	$ 1,452	$ 3,673,128	$ (1,580,863)	$ 2,104	$ 1,882
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock repurchases as part of an announced plan (in shares)		(3,133,000)
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan	(61,750)	$ (31)		(61,719)
Offering costs	(182)		(182)
Dividends to common stockholders, dividends to preferred stockholders of subsidiary, and dividends reinvested	(193,541)		(233)	(193,263)		(45)
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax (in shares)		257,000
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax	4,650	$ 3	4,647
Net loss applicable to noncontrolling interest	(15)					(15)
Net income applicable to Piedmont	133,564			133,564
Other comprehensive income	6,060				6,060
Ending balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		142,359,000
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2017	1,986,489	$ 1,424	3,677,360	(1,702,281)	8,164	1,822
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock repurchases as part of an announced plan (in shares)		(16,495,000)
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan	(301,678)	$ (165)		(301,513)
Offering costs	(85)		(85)
Dividends to common stockholders, dividends to preferred stockholders of subsidiary, and dividends reinvested	(109,265)		(82)	(109,138)		(45)
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax (in shares)		355,000
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax	5,996	$ 3	5,993
Net loss applicable to noncontrolling interest	(5)					(5)
Net income applicable to Piedmont	130,296			130,296
Other comprehensive income	$ 392				392
Ending balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	126,218,554	126,219,000
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1,712,140	$ 1,262	3,683,186	(1,982,542)	8,462	1,772
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock repurchases as part of an announced plan (in shares)		(728,000)
Share repurchases as part of an announced plan	(12,482)	$ (7)		(12,475)
Offering costs	(710)		(710)
Dividends to common stockholders, dividends to preferred stockholders of subsidiary, and dividends reinvested	$ (105,888)		(228)	(105,619)		(41)
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax (in shares)	292,675	292,000
Shares issued and amortized under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, net of tax	$ 4,153	$ 3	4,150
Net loss applicable to noncontrolling interest	(5)					(5)
Net income applicable to Piedmont	229,261			229,261
Other comprehensive income	$ (7,495)				(7,495)
Ending balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	125,783,408	125,783,000
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,818,974	$ 1,258	3,686,398	(1,871,375)	967	1,726
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income applicable to Piedmont	$ 162,478
Ending balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	125,783,408	125,783,000
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,818,974	$ 1,258	$ 3,686,398	$ (1,871,375)	$ 967	$ 1,726