Noncontrolling Interests (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 sqft
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Increased discretionary fund capacity	$ 20
Parkway Properties Office Fund II, LP [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	27.40%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	3,392,000
Area of real estate property acquired	3,400,000
Target value of discretionary fund	750
Target capital structure of equity capital	375
Target capital structure of non-recourse, fixed rate first mortgage debt	$ 375
Number of properties acquired	10
Area of real estate property acquired (in millions of square feet)	3,400,000
Cumulative preferred return threshold for pro rata cash distributions (in hundredths)	9.00%
Term of the fund	7 years 0 months 0 days
Number of term extension provisions	2
Length of extension term	1 year 0 months 0 days
Parkway Properties Office Fund II, LP [Member] | Parkway [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Target ownership percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%
Distribution percentage to partners (in hundredths)	44.00%
Parkway Properties Office Fund II, LP [Member] | TRST [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Target ownership percentage (in hundredths)	70.00%
Distribution percentage to partners (in hundredths)	56.00%
Hayden Ferry Lakeside I [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Location	Phoenix, AZ
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	203,000
Hayden Ferry Lakeside II [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Location	Phoenix, AZ
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	299,000
Hayden Ferry Lakeside III, IV, V [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Location	Phoenix, AZ
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	21,000
Area of real estate property acquired	21,000
Number of parking spaces in garage acquired	2,500
Area of real estate property acquired (in millions of square feet)	21,000
245 Riverside [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Location	Jacksonville, FL
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	136,000
Bank of America Center [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Location	Orlando, FL
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	421,000
Lakewood II [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Location	Atlanta, GA
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	123,000
3344 Peachtree [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Location	Atlanta, GA
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	33.00%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	484,000
Two Ravinia [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Location	Atlanta, GA
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	438,000
Carmel Crossing [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Location	Charlotte, NC
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	30.00%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	326,000
Two Liberty Place [Member]
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Location	Philadelphia, PA
Parkway's ownership percentage (in hundredths)	19.00%
Square feet (in thousands of square feet)	941,000