Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information
Number of operating segments	2				2
Segment Revenues:
Segment revenue	$ 107,884		$ 103,104		$ 213,441		$ 202,965
Other non-property related revenue	1,471		2,173		2,815		3,984
Discontinued operations property revenue	(4,879)		(8,137)		(9,169)		(16,763)
Total consolidated revenues	99,603		89,905		196,950		175,667
Segment NOI
Segment operating income (loss)	66,101		62,333		130,644		122,541
Discontinued operations property NOI	(3,266)		(5,065)		(6,249)		(10,644)
Property management expense	(3,001)		(2,181)		(5,847)		(4,603)
General and administrative expense	(5,446)		(5,188)		(11,213)		(10,390)
Management fees and other expenses	(1,769)		(1,884)		(3,814)		(3,653)
Investment and development expense	(205)	[1]	(393)	[1]	(592)	[1]	(979)	[1]
Depreciation	(30,472)		(29,130)		(60,818)		(57,874)
Amortization	(1,324)		(1,773)		(3,142)		(3,584)
Impairment and other losses	(395)	[2]	(148)	[2]	(895)	[2]	(2,244)	[2]
Income from operations	18,541		14,032		34,396		23,059
Total other income (expense), net	(3,060)	[3]	(21,586)	[3]	(26,293)	[3]	(43,951)	[3]
Income (loss) from continuing operations	15,481		(7,554)		8,103		(20,892)
Development and Capitalized Expenditures
Development and capital expenditures	38,019		13,030		58,622		22,564
Assets
Properties owned	136				136
Colonial Properties Trust
Segment Revenues:
Other non-property related revenue	1,471		2,173		2,815		3,984
Total consolidated revenues	99,603		89,905		196,950		175,667
Segment NOI
Discontinued operations property NOI	2,250		1,510		3,177		3,092
Property management expense	3,001		2,181		5,847		4,603
General and administrative expense	5,446		5,188		11,213		10,390
Management fees and other expenses	1,769		1,884		3,814		3,653
Investment and development expense	205		393		592		979
Depreciation	30,472		29,130		60,818		57,874
Amortization	1,324		1,773		3,142		3,584
Impairment and other losses	(395)		(148)		(895)		(2,244)
Income from operations	18,541		14,032		34,396		23,059
Total other income (expense), net	(3,060)		(21,586)		(26,293)		(43,951)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	15,481		(7,554)		8,103		(20,892)
Assets
Assets	3,302,663				3,302,663				3,258,605
Investment in partially-owned entities	9,293				9,293				12,303
Colonial Realty Limited Partnership
Segment Revenues:
Other non-property related revenue	1,471		2,173		2,815		3,984
Total consolidated revenues	99,603		89,905		196,950		175,667
Segment NOI
Discontinued operations property NOI	2,250		1,510		3,177		3,092
Property management expense	3,001		2,181		5,847		4,603
General and administrative expense	5,446		5,188		11,213		10,390
Management fees and other expenses	1,769		1,884		3,814		3,653
Investment and development expense	205		393		592		979
Depreciation	30,472		29,130		60,818		57,874
Amortization	1,324		1,773		3,142		3,584
Impairment and other losses	(395)		(148)		(895)		(2,244)
Income from operations	18,541		14,032		34,396		23,059
Total other income (expense), net	(7,205)		(21,586)		(30,438)		(43,951)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	11,336		(7,554)		3,958		(20,892)
Assets
Assets	3,302,562				3,302,562				3,258,428
Investment in partially-owned entities	9,293				9,293				12,303
Multifamily
Segment Reporting Information
Real estate properties	115				115
Segment Revenues:
Segment revenue	90,213		84,049		178,054		164,142
Segment NOI
Segment operating income (loss)	54,352		49,301		106,910		95,970
Development and Capitalized Expenditures
Development and capital expenditures	33,917		12,052		51,593		17,836
Assets
Assets	2,653,056				2,653,056				2,584,769
Multifamily - Same Property
Segment Revenues:
Segment revenue	80,277	[4]	76,515	[4]	159,120	[4]	150,926	[4]
Segment NOI
Segment operating income (loss)	48,883	[4]	45,575	[4]	96,478	[4]	89,510	[4]
Assets
Properties owned	99				99
Total units	30,323				30,323
Multifamily - Other
Segment Revenues:
Segment revenue	9,936	[5]	7,534	[5]	18,934	[5]	13,216	[5]
Segment NOI
Segment operating income (loss)	5,469	[5]	3,726	[5]	10,432	[5]	6,460	[5]
Commercial
Segment Reporting Information
Real estate properties	21				21
Segment Revenues:
Segment revenue	17,671		19,055		35,387		38,823
Segment NOI
Segment operating income (loss)	11,749		13,032		23,734		26,571
Development and Capitalized Expenditures
Development and capital expenditures	4,015		916		6,838		4,482
Assets
Assets	510,548				510,548				514,810
Reportable Segment
Assets
Assets	3,163,604				3,163,604				3,099,579
Corporate
Development and Capitalized Expenditures
Development and capital expenditures	87		62		191		246
Assets
Assets	139,059	[6]			139,059	[6]			159,026	[6]
Corporate | Colonial Properties Trust
Assets
Assets	(101)				(101)				(177)
Partially-owned Unconsolidated Entities - Multifamily
Segment Revenues:
Revenue from partially-owned unconsolidated entities	(480)		(702)		(952)		(1,415)
Segment NOI
Operating income (loss) from unconsolidated equity method investments	(260)		(353)		(515)		(692)
Partially-owned Unconsolidated Entities - Commercial
Segment Revenues:
Revenue from partially-owned unconsolidated entities	(4,393)		(6,533)		(9,185)		(13,104)
Segment NOI
Operating income (loss) from unconsolidated equity method investments	(2,622)		(4,359)		(5,707)		(8,803)
Segment, Discontinued Operations
Segment NOI
Impairment and other losses	$ (271)	[7]	$ 0	[7]	$ (271)	[7]	$ 0	[7]

[1] Reflects costs incurred related to acquisitions and abandoned pursuits. These costs are volatile and, therefore, may vary between periods.

[2] See Note 3 - "Real Estate Activity - Impairment and Other Losses" for a description of the charges.

[3] For-sale residential activities, including net loss on sales and income tax expense (benefit), are included in the line item “Total other income (expense)”. See Note 3 - "Real Estate Activity - For-Sale Activities".

[4] Consists of 99 consolidated multifamily communities, containing 30,323 apartment units, continuously owned since January 1, 2011

[5] Includes all multifamily communities other than same-property communities and operations from the for-sale portfolio.

[6] Includes the Company's investment in partially-owned entities of $9.3 million and $12.3 million as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively

[7] Includes a non-cash impairment charge recorded on one of the Company's commercial assets, which is currently classified as held for sale.