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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-03-02</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>2016-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1094</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.83</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>116962</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>LTIP Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>H</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common OP Units</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24000</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">On March 2, 2016, 4,000 restricted share units vested, and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 1,094 shares to cover tax withholding obligations as permitted under the Company's 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents 24,000 previously reported performance-based LTIP units granted on May 16, 2013 pursuant to the Company's 2013 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, which was amended, restated and superseded by the Company's 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, with the vesting based upon the satisfaction of certain performance-based criteria relating to the attainment of total stockholder return targets during the period between March 2, 2013 and March 1, 2016. The performance criteria were not met and these LTIP units were not earned. This transaction is exempt from Section 16(b) pursuant to Rule 16b-6(d) and further from the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) purusnt to Rule 16a-4(d), both rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of David R. O'Reilly, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2016-03-02
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
2016-03-02
4
F
0
1094
13.83
D
116962
D
LTIP Units
2016-03-01
4
H
0
24000
D
Common OP Units
24000
0
D
On March 2, 2016, 4,000 restricted share units vested, and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 1,094 shares to cover tax withholding obligations as permitted under the Company's 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
Represents 24,000 previously reported performance-based LTIP units granted on May 16, 2013 pursuant to the Company's 2013 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, which was amended, restated and superseded by the Company's 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, with the vesting based upon the satisfaction of certain performance-based criteria relating to the attainment of total stockholder return targets during the period between March 2, 2013 and March 1, 2016. The performance criteria were not met and these LTIP units were not earned. This transaction is exempt from Section 16(b) pursuant to Rule 16b-6(d) and further from the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) purusnt to Rule 16a-4(d), both rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
/s/ Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of David R. O'Reilly, as Attorney-in-Fact
2016-03-04