Debt instrument maturity month and year.

No definition available.

Name:	pei_DebtInstrumentMaturityMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	pei_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearMonthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Repayments of cash and escrow balance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pei_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of outstanding long-term debt or borrowing associated with any securities or credit agreement for which there has been a default in principal, interest, sinking fund, or redemption provisions, or any breach of covenant that existed at the end of the period and subsequently has not been cured.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow during the period from the repayment of aggregate short-term and long-term debt. Excludes payment of capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_MortgagesMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=pei_CapitalCityMallCampHillPennsylvaniaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=pei_WyomingValleyMallMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Financing Activity - Other Mortgage Loan Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment, net				$ 24,859	$ 0	$ 0
Mortgage loans, carrying value				899,753	$ 1,047,906
Mortgage Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, carrying value				901,600
Capital City Mall, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania \| Commercial Real Estate \| Mortgage Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Debt		$ 58,500
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment, net		$ (4,800)
Wyoming Valley Mall \| Commercial Real Estate \| Mortgage Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment, net	$ 29,600			29,600
Debt default, amount	72,800
Repayments of cash and escrow balance	$ 7,500		$ 7,500
Valley View Mall \| Commercial Real Estate \| Mortgage Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, carrying value				$ 27,400
Debt instrument, maturity month and year				2020-07