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		73,038
Stock compensation, net			3,292		3,292		3,292
Cash paid for taxes in lieu of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units			(6,120)		(6,120)		(6,120)
Net income				120,788	120,788	21,670	142,458
Distributions
Preferred stock (Note 9)				(38,877)	(38,877)		(38,877)
Common stock				(86,343)	(86,343)		(86,343)
Noncontrolling interests—Common Units						(23,012)	(23,012)
Noncontrolling interests—Joint venture						(78)	(78)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests-common units in the OP			748		748	(748)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 959,750	$ 274	734,760	64,775	1,759,559	215,923	1,975,482
Balances, shares at Sep. 30, 2019	38,390	27,435,139
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
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation, shares		5,383
Stock compensation, net			1,883		1,883		1,883
Cash paid for taxes in lieu of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units			(620)		(620)		(620)
Net income				39,490	39,490	7,020	46,510
Distributions
Preferred stock (Note 9)				(12,959)	(12,959)		(12,959)
Common stock				(28,805)	(28,805)		(28,805)
Noncontrolling interests—Common Units						(7,671)	(7,671)
Noncontrolling interests—Joint venture						(33)	(33)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests-common units in the OP			(280)		(280)	280
Balances at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 959,750	$ 274	734,760	64,775	1,759,559	215,923	1,975,482
Balances, shares at Sep. 30, 2019	38,390	27,435,139
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		45,835
Stock compensation, net			3,922		3,922		3,922
Cash paid for taxes in lieu of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units			(4,102)		(4,102)		(4,102)
Capital contribution to joint venture						438	438
Net income				134,399	134,399	26,011	160,410
Distributions
Preferred stock (Note 9)				(36,139)	(36,139)		(36,139)
Common stock				(86,533)	(86,533)		(86,533)
Noncontrolling interests—Common Units						(23,012)	(23,012)
Noncontrolling interests—Joint venture						(109)	(109)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 944,750	$ 274	737,065	75,393	1,757,482	219,463	1,976,945
Balances, shares at Sep. 30, 2020	37,790	27,486,788
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
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation, shares		5,302
Stock compensation, net			2,378		2,378		2,378
Cash paid for taxes in lieu of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units			(442)		(442)		(442)
Capital contribution to joint venture						438	438
Net income				42,775	42,775	8,124	50,899
Distributions
Preferred stock (Note 9)				(12,046)	(12,046)		(12,046)
Common stock				(28,860)	(28,860)		(28,860)
Noncontrolling interests—Common Units						(7,671)	(7,671)
Noncontrolling interests—Joint venture						(46)	(46)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 944,750	$ 274	$ 737,065	$ 75,393	$ 1,757,482	$ 219,463	$ 1,976,945
Balances, shares at Sep. 30, 2020	37,790	27,486,788