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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-10-25</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001532404</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>O'Reilly David R.</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 &amp; CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-10-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10518</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.09</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>183559</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On October 25, 2015, 31,445 restricted share units vested and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 10,518 shares to cover tax withholding obligations as permitted under the Company's 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes an additional 2 shares acquired through the Reporting Person's participation in the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and as a result of the reinvestment of dividends pursuant to the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:/s/Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of David R. O'Reilly as Attorney-in-Fact.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-10-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2015-10-25
0000729237
PARKWAY PROPERTIES INC
PKY
0001532404
O'Reilly David R.
390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE
SUITE 2400
ORLANDO
FL
32801
0
1
0
0
EVP & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Common Stock
2015-10-25
4
F
0
10518
17.09
D
183559
D
On October 25, 2015, 31,445 restricted share units vested and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 10,518 shares to cover tax withholding obligations as permitted under the Company's 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.
Includes an additional 2 shares acquired through the Reporting Person's participation in the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and as a result of the reinvestment of dividends pursuant to the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
By:/s/Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of David R. O'Reilly as Attorney-in-Fact.
2015-10-27