Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Rental income	$ 107,782	$ 101,824	$ 215,607	$ 205,583
Expenses
Cost of operations	31,460	30,796	65,053	63,252
Depreciation and amortization	24,768	24,416	49,643	48,298
General and administrative	2,827	2,828	6,060	5,678
Total operating expenses	59,055	58,040	120,756	117,228
Interest and other income	764	294	1,382	578
Interest and other expense	(118)	(167)	(285)	(332)
Gain on sale of real estate facilities		58,448		85,283
Net income	49,373	102,359	95,948	173,884
Allocation to noncontrolling interests	(7,623)	(18,400)	(14,650)	(30,300)
Net income allocable to PS Business Parks, Inc.	41,750	83,959	81,298	143,584
Allocation to preferred shareholders	(12,959)	(12,959)	(25,918)	(25,962)
Allocation to restricted stock unit holders	(212)	(779)	(480)	(1,353)
Net income allocable to common shareholders	$ 28,579	$ 70,221	$ 54,900	$ 116,269
Net income per common share
Basic	$ 1.04	$ 2.57	$ 2.00	$ 4.26
Diluted	$ 1.04	$ 2.56	$ 2.00	$ 4.24
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic	27,426	27,322	27,400	27,294
Diluted	27,532	27,423	27,505	27,395