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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-01-14</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001532644</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lipsey M. Jayson</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, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>78</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.56</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33021.999</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Commom Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>220</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.56</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33361.109</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 14, 2013, 240 incentive restricted shares vested and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 78 shares to cover tax withholding obligations as permitted under the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On January 14, 2013, 675 incentive restricted shares vested and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 220 shares to cover tax withholding obligations as permitted under the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes an additional 559.11shares acquired by the Reporting Person as a result of the reinvestment of dividends pursuant to the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan.  These transactions are exempt from Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16a-3(f)(1)(i)(B).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">As of the date hereof, the Reporting Person's direct beneficial ownership includes 16,105  restricted shares granted under the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, that have not yet vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Remarks:   Jeremy Dorsett is signing on behalf of Mr.Lipsey 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 Jayson Lipsey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-01-14
0000729237
PARKWAY PROPERTIES INC
PKY
0001532644
Lipsey M. Jayson
390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE
SUITE 2400
ORLANDO
FL
32801
0
1
0
0
EVP, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Common Shares
2013-01-14
4
F
0
78
15.56
D
33021.999
D
Commom Shares
2013-01-14
4
F
0
220
15.56
D
33361.109
D
On January 14, 2013, 240 incentive restricted shares vested and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 78 shares to cover tax withholding obligations as permitted under the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
On January 14, 2013, 675 incentive restricted shares vested and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 220 shares to cover tax withholding obligations as permitted under the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
Includes an additional 559.11shares acquired by the Reporting Person as a result of the reinvestment of dividends pursuant to the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan.  These transactions are exempt from Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16a-3(f)(1)(i)(B).
As of the date hereof, the Reporting Person's direct beneficial ownership includes 16,105  restricted shares granted under the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, that have not yet vested.
Remarks:   Jeremy Dorsett is signing on behalf of Mr.Lipsey pursuant to the power of attorney dated December 3, 2012, which is attached hereto as an exhibit.
Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of Jayson Lipsey
2013-01-15