Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Rental income	$ 100,559	$ 107,782	$ 206,775	$ 215,607
Expenses
Cost of operations	30,131	31,460	61,394	65,053
Depreciation and amortization	22,963	24,768	49,582	49,643
General and administrative	3,004	2,827	6,327	6,060
Total operating expenses	56,098	59,055	117,303	120,756
Interest and other income	225	764	782	1,382
Interest and other expense	(203)	(118)	(364)	(285)
Gain on sale of real estate facility			19,621
Net income	44,483	49,373	109,511	95,948
Allocation to noncontrolling interests	(6,795)	(7,623)	(17,887)	(14,650)
Net income allocable to PS Business Parks, Inc.	37,688	41,750	91,624	81,298
Allocation to preferred shareholders	(12,047)	(12,959)	(24,093)	(25,918)
Allocation to restricted stock unit holders	(119)	(212)	(394)	(480)
Net income allocable to common shareholders	$ 25,522	$ 28,579	$ 67,137	$ 54,900
Net income per common share
Basic	$ 0.93	$ 1.04	$ 2.44	$ 2.00
Diluted	$ 0.93	$ 1.04	$ 2.44	$ 2.00
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic	27,479	27,426	27,464	27,400
Diluted	27,560	27,532	27,557	27,505