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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-01-14</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>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>2016-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>220</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.78</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>103340</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 14, 2016, 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="F2">Includes an additional 1 share 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. This transaction is exempt from Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16a-3(f)(1)(i)(B).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of David R. O'Reilly as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-01-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2016-01-14
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
2016-01-14
4
F
0
220
13.78
D
103340
D
On January 14, 2016, 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 1 share 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. This transaction is exempt from Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16a-3(f)(1)(i)(B).
/s/ Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of David R. O'Reilly as Attorney-in-Fact
2016-01-19