Consolidated Statements Of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Earnings [Member]	Total PS Business Parks, Inc.'s Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Balances at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 959,750	$ 274	$ 736,131	$ 69,207	$ 1,765,362	$ 218,091	$ 1,983,453
Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2018	38,390	27,362,101
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation			709		709		709
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation, shares		67,655
Stock compensation, net			1,409		1,409		1,409
Cash paid for taxes in lieu of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units			(5,500)		(5,500)		(5,500)
Net income				81,298	81,298	14,650	95,948
Distributions
Preferred stock (Note 8)				(25,918)	(25,918)		(25,918)
Common stock				(57,538)	(57,538)		(57,538)
Noncontrolling interests—Common Units						(15,341)	(15,341)
Noncontrolling interests—Joint Venture						(45)	(45)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests - common units in the OP			1,028		1,028	(1,028)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 959,750	$ 274	733,777	67,049	1,760,850	216,327	1,977,177
Balances, shares at Jun. 30, 2019	38,390	27,429,756
Balances at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 959,750	$ 274	732,955	67,059	1,760,038	216,237	1,976,275
Balances, shares at Mar. 31, 2019	38,390	27,417,909
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation			304		304		304
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation, shares		11,847
Stock compensation, net			706		706		706
Cash paid for taxes in lieu of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units			(6)		(6)		(6)
Net income				41,750	41,750	7,623	49,373
Distributions
Preferred stock (Note 8)				(12,959)	(12,959)		(12,959)
Common stock				(28,801)	(28,801)		(28,801)
Noncontrolling interests—Common Units						(7,670)	(7,670)
Noncontrolling interests—Joint Venture						(45)	(45)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests - common units in the OP			(182)		(182)	182
Balances at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 959,750	$ 274	733,777	67,049	1,760,850	216,327	1,977,177
Balances, shares at Jun. 30, 2019	38,390	27,429,756
Balances at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 944,750	$ 274	736,986	63,666	1,745,676	216,135	1,961,811
Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2019	37,790	27,440,953
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation			259		259		259
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation, shares		40,533
Stock compensation, net			1,544		1,544		1,544
Cash paid for taxes in lieu of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units			(3,660)		(3,660)		(3,660)
Net income				91,624	91,624	17,887	109,511
Distributions
Preferred stock (Note 8)				(24,093)	(24,093)		(24,093)
Common stock				(57,673)	(57,673)		(57,673)
Noncontrolling interests—Common Units						(15,341)	(15,341)
Noncontrolling interests—Joint Venture						(63)	(63)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 944,750	$ 274	735,129	73,524	1,753,677	218,618	1,972,295
Balances, shares at Jun. 30, 2020	37,790	27,481,486
Balances at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 944,750	$ 274	734,091	76,739	1,755,854	219,518	1,975,372
Balances, shares at Mar. 31, 2020	37,790	27,477,303
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation			259		259		259
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation, shares		4,183
Stock compensation, net			784		784		784
Cash paid for taxes in lieu of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units			(5)		(5)		(5)
Net income				37,688	37,688	6,795	44,483
Distributions
Preferred stock (Note 8)				(12,047)	(12,047)		(12,047)
Common stock				(28,856)	(28,856)		(28,856)
Noncontrolling interests—Common Units						(7,670)	(7,670)
Noncontrolling interests—Joint Venture						(25)	(25)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 944,750	$ 274	$ 735,129	$ 73,524	$ 1,753,677	$ 218,618	$ 1,972,295
Balances, shares at Jun. 30, 2020	37,790	27,481,486