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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-05-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000729237</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PARKWAY PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PKY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001567787</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Waltman O Darryl</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>SVP &amp; CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-05-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20701.839</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The award was approved by a committee of issuer's board of directors on March 2, 2013, subject to shareholder approval of the issuer's 2013 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan under which the award was granted.  The issuer's shareholders approved the plan on May 16, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes an additional 278.659  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>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of Darryl Waltman as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-05-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-05-16
0000729237
PARKWAY PROPERTIES INC
PKY
0001567787
Waltman O Darryl
ONE JACKSON PLACE SUITE 1000
188 E CAPITOL STREET
JACKSON
MS
39201
0
1
0
0
SVP & CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER
Common Stock
2013-05-16
4
A
0
7000
0
A
20701.839
D
The award was approved by a committee of issuer's board of directors on March 2, 2013, subject to shareholder approval of the issuer's 2013 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan under which the award was granted.  The issuer's shareholders approved the plan on May 16, 2013.
Includes an additional 278.659  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).
/s/ Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of Darryl Waltman as Attorney-in-Fact
2013-05-20