<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-12-13</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000729237</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PARKWAY PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PKY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001520994</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pratt Henry F III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORLANDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP OF ASSET MANAGEMENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Commom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>129685</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>148450</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>OP Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>129685</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>129685</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">129,685 shares of Common Stock were issued upon the redemption and tender of common units of limited partnership interest (&quot;OP Units&quot;) in Parkway Properties LP, the operating partnership of the Issuer (the &quot;Operating Partnership&quot;).  The Issuer is the sole shareholder of the general partmer of the Operating Partnership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As of the date hereof, the Reporting Person's direct beneficial ownership includes 18,453 restricted shares granted under the Company's 2011 Employee Inducement AwardPlan, that have not vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Holders of OP Units have redemption rights that enable them to cause the Operating Partnership to redeem their OP Units for cash or, at the option of the Issuer, for shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">All of the OP Units are currently redeemable and do not have expiration dates.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Remarks:   Jeremy Dorsett is signing on behalf of Mr. Pratt pursuant to the power of attorney dated December 3, 2012, which is attached hereto as an exhibit.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of Henry F. Pratt III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2012-12-13
0000729237
PARKWAY PROPERTIES INC
PKY
0001520994
Pratt Henry F III
390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE
SUITE 2400
ORLANDO
FL
32801
0
1
0
0
EVP OF ASSET MANAGEMENT
Commom Stock
2012-12-13
4
J
0
129685
0
A
148450
D
OP Units
2012-12-13
4
J
0
129685
D
Common Stock
129685
0
D
129,685 shares of Common Stock were issued upon the redemption and tender of common units of limited partnership interest ("OP Units") in Parkway Properties LP, the operating partnership of the Issuer (the "Operating Partnership").  The Issuer is the sole shareholder of the general partmer of the Operating Partnership.
As of the date hereof, the Reporting Person's direct beneficial ownership includes 18,453 restricted shares granted under the Company's 2011 Employee Inducement AwardPlan, that have not vested.
Holders of OP Units have redemption rights that enable them to cause the Operating Partnership to redeem their OP Units for cash or, at the option of the Issuer, for shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.
All of the OP Units are currently redeemable and do not have expiration dates.
Remarks:   Jeremy Dorsett is signing on behalf of Mr. Pratt pursuant to the power of attorney dated December 3, 2012, which is attached hereto as an exhibit.
Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of Henry F. Pratt III
2012-12-13