Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Common Stock Held in Trust and Limited Voting Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 630,037	$ 128,942	$ 22	$ (220)	$ 517,309	$ (3,340)	$ (271,104)	$ 258,428
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(42,981)						(39,395)	(3,586)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,364)					(1,085)		(2,279)
Common dividends declared	(14,570)						(14,570)
Preferred dividends declared	(10,843)						(10,843)
Convertible preferred dividends declared	(1,011)						(1,011)
Share-based compensation	432				432
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees	263				263
Issuance of common stock	229,843		19		229,824
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Issued for Services	225				225
Conversion of convertible preferred shares to common stock	141,173		13		141,160
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock	(173)				(173)
Contribution of common stock to deferred compensation plan	(38)			(38)
Distribution of common stock from deferred compensation plan	258			258
Issuance of operating partnership units	18,216							18,216
Issuance of common stock upon redemption of operating partnership units	0		2		18,214		(890)	(17,326)
Issuance of shares of limited voting stock	0
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interests	17,447							17,447
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(729)							(729)
Sale of noncontrolling interest in Parkway Properties Office Fund, L.P. / Purchase of noncontrolling interest's share of office properties owned by Parkway Properties Office Fund II, L.P.	(8,179)							(8,179)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	956,006	128,942	56	0	907,254	(4,425)	(337,813)	261,992
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(12,037)						(19,650)	7,613
Other comprehensive income (loss)	9,779					2,246		7,533
Common dividends declared	(42,007)						(41,838)	(169)
Preferred dividends declared	(3,433)						(3,433)
Dividends on preferred stock redemption	(6,604)						(6,604)
Share-based compensation	5,725				5,725
Series D Preferred Stock redemption	(128,942)	(128,942)
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees	220				220
Issuance of common stock	540,499		31		540,468
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Issued for Services	450				450
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock	(49)				(49)
Issuance of operating partnership units	96,409							96,409
Issuance of common stock upon redemption of operating partnership units	0				4,302			(4,302)
Issuance of shares of limited voting stock	4			4
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interests	34,230							34,230
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(29,267)							(29,267)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests share of office properties	(85,462)				(30,344)			(55,118)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,335,521	0	87	4	1,428,026	(2,179)	(409,338)	318,921
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	44,208						42,943	1,265
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,758)					(3,987)		229
Common dividends declared	(81,262)						(77,362)	(3,900)
Share-based compensation	6,733				6,733
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees	309				309
Issuance of common stock	417,684		24		417,660
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Issued for Services	375				375
Issuance of operating partnership units	1,546							1,546
Issuance of shares of limited voting stock	0
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interests	4,175							4,175
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,713)							(2,713)
Sale of noncontrolling interest in Parkway Properties Office Fund, L.P. / Purchase of noncontrolling interest's share of office properties owned by Parkway Properties Office Fund II, L.P.	(41,539)				(10,522)			(31,017)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests share of office properties	(1,963)							(1,963)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,679,316	$ 0	$ 111	$ 4	$ 1,842,581	$ (6,166)	$ (443,757)	$ 286,543