Consolidated Statements Of Equity (USD $)	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Paid-In Capital [Member]	Cumulative Net Income [Member]	Cumulative Distributions [Member]	Total PS Business Parks, Cumulative Inc.'s Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Balances, value at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 706,250,000	$ 204,000	$ 363,587,000	$ 622,113,000	$ (571,340,000)	$ 1,120,814,000	$ 242,773,000	$ 1,363,587,000
Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2008	28,250	20,459,916
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs, value		38,000	171,194,000			171,232,000		171,232,000
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs, shares		3,833,333
Repurchase of preferred stock, net of issuance costs, value	(80,204,000)		32,788,000		(2,783,000)	(50,199,000)		(50,199,000)
Repurchase of preferred stock, net of issuance costs, shares	(3,208)
Repurchase of preferred units, net of issuance costs			9,577,000			9,577,000	(21,912,000)	(12,335,000)
Repurchase of common stock, value			(230,000)			(230,000)		(230,000)
Repurchase of common stock, shares								0
Exercise of stock options, value			1,177,000			1,177,000		1,177,000
Exercise of stock options, shares		35,100						35,100
Stock compensation, net, value		1,000	1,015,000			1,016,000		1,016,000
Stock compensation, net, shares		71,160
Shelf registration			(75,000)			(75,000)		(75,000)
Net income				77,178,000		77,178,000	17,161,000	94,339,000
Distributions:
Preferred stock					(44,662,000)	(44,662,000)		(44,662,000)
Common stock					(39,509,000)	(39,509,000)		(39,509,000)
Noncontrolling interests							(18,704,000)	(18,704,000)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests in underlying operating partnership			(30,640,000)			(30,640,000)	30,640,000	(30,640,000)
Balances, value at Dec. 31, 2009	626,046,000	243,000	548,393,000	699,291,000	(658,294,000)	1,215,679,000	249,958,000	1,465,637,000
Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2009	25,042	24,399,509
Issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs, values	75,000,000
Issuance of preferred stock net of issuance costs shares	3,000		(2,487,000)			72,513,000		72,513,000
Redemption of preferred stock, net of issuance costs, value	(102,500,000)		3,484,000		(3,484,000)	(102,500,000)		(102,500,000)
Redemption of preferred stock, net of issuance costs, shares	(4,100)
Redemption of preferred units, net of issuance costs			582,000			582,000	(20,582,000)	(20,000,000)
Exercise of stock options, value		3,000	7,780,000			7,783,000		7,783,000
Exercise of stock options, shares		243,936						243,936
Stock compensation, net, value			1,031,000			1,031,000		1,031,000
Stock compensation, net, shares		27,732
Net income				85,325,000		85,325,000	16,697,000	102,022,000
Distributions:
Preferred stock					(42,730,000)	(42,730,000)		(42,730,000)
Common stock					(43,254,000)	(43,254,000)		(43,254,000)
Noncontrolling interests							(17,377,000)	(17,377,000)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests in underlying operating partnership			(901,000)			(901,000)	901,000	(901,000)
Balances, value at Dec. 31, 2010	598,546,000	246,000	557,882,000	784,616,000	(747,762,000)	1,193,528,000	229,597,000	1,423,125,000
Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2010	23,942	24,671,177
Repurchase of preferred units, net of issuance costs			10,107,000			10,107,000	(49,194,000)	(39,087,000)
Repurchase of common stock, value		(6,000)	(30,246,000)			(30,252,000)		(30,252,000)
Repurchase of common stock, shares		(591,500)						591,500
Exercise of stock options, value			1,050,000			1,050,000		1,050,000
Exercise of stock options, shares		24,600						24,600
Stock compensation, net, value			1,218,000			1,218,000		1,218,000
Stock compensation, net, shares		23,907
Net income				94,088,000		94,088,000	8,552,000	102,640,000
Distributions:
Preferred stock					(41,799,000)	(41,799,000)		(41,799,000)
Common stock					(43,046,000)	(43,046,000)		(43,046,000)
Noncontrolling interests							(13,254,000)	(13,254,000)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interests in underlying operating partnership			(5,689,000)			(5,689,000)	5,689,000	(5,689,000)
Balances, value at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 598,546,000	$ 240,000	$ 534,322,000	$ 878,704,000	$ (832,607,000)	$ 1,179,205,000	$ 181,390,000	$ 1,360,595,000
Balances, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	23,942	24,128,184