<?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>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 INVESTMENT 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>220</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.56</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>111840.057</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <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, 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 37.427 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="F3">As of the date hereof, the Reporting Person's direct beneficial ownership includes 2,025 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. O'Reilly 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 David O'Reilly</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-01-14
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 INVESTMENT OFFICER
Common Shares
2013-01-14
4
F
0
220
15.56
D
111840.057
D
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 37.427 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 2,025 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. O'Reilly pursuant to the power of attorney dated December 3, 2012, which is attached hereto as an exhibit.
Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of David O'Reilly
2013-01-15