Document and Entity Information Document	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Aug. 06, 2012
Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
Entity Central Index Key	0000909111
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		88,027,609
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Colonial Realty Limited Partnership
Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	COLONIAL REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Entity Central Index Key	0001013844
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer