<?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>0001232623</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POPE MANDY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE JACKSON PLACE    SUITE 1000</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>188 E CAPITOL STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JACKSON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>39201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>152</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.56</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46081.457</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>152</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.56</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45935.037</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 14, 2013,405 incentive restricted shares vested and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 152 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, 405 incentive restricted shares vested and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 152 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 5.58 shares 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 24,975 restricted shares granted under the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, that have not yet vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Jeremy Dorsett is signing on behalf of Ms Pope pursuant to the Power of Attorney dated      December 3,2012, which is attached hereto as exhibit.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of Mandy Pope</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-01-14
0000729237
PARKWAY PROPERTIES INC
PKY
0001232623
POPE MANDY M
ONE JACKSON PLACE    SUITE 1000
188 E CAPITOL STREET
JACKSON
MS
39201
0
1
0
0
EVP & CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER
Common Stock
2013-01-14
4
F
0
152
15.56
D
46081.457
D
Common Stock
2013-01-14
4
F
0
152
15.56
D
45935.037
D
On January 14, 2013,405 incentive restricted shares vested and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 152 shares to cover tax withholding obligations as permitted under the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
On January 14, 2013, 405 incentive restricted shares vested and the Reporting Person instructed the Company to withhold 152 shares to cover tax withholding obligations as permitted under the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
Includes an additional 5.58 shares 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 24,975 restricted shares granted under the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, that have not yet vested.
Jeremy Dorsett is signing on behalf of Ms Pope pursuant to the Power of Attorney dated      December 3,2012, which is attached hereto as exhibit.
Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of Mandy Pope
2013-01-15