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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-01-14</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>BANK OF AMERICA CENTER, SUITE 2400</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE</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>Comon Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>220</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.23</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>239907</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 14, 2015, 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>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of David O'Reilly as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-01-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2015-01-14
0000729237
PARKWAY PROPERTIES INC
PKY
0001532404
O'Reilly David R.
BANK OF AMERICA CENTER, SUITE 2400
390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE
ORLANDO
FL
32801
0
1
0
0
EVP & Chief Financial Officer
Comon Stock
2015-01-14
4
F
0
220
18.23
D
239907
D
On January 14, 2015, 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.
/s/Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of David O'Reilly as attorney-in-fact
2015-01-15