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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-02-18</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001520993</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Heistand James 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>PRESIDENT &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-02-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>45600</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1492904</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29916</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>ACP Laurich Partnership, Ltd.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>ACP-JRL Partnership, Ltd., a family limited partnership</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>LTIP Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-02-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>68400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common OP Units</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>68400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>68400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents time-based RSU awards that will vest 25% on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the executive's continued employment with the Company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes an additional 3,600 shares acquired by 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 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) and Rule 16a-11, respectively.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial owership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents performance-based LTIP units that will vest based on the attainment of targets for total return to stockholders during the performance period running from February 18, 2016 to February 17, 2019, subject to the executive's continued employment with the Company. Subject to the satisfaction of the vesting requirements and certain restrictions set forth in the limited partnership agreement of Parkway Properties LP, each LTIP unit may be converted, at the election of the executive or the Company, into an OP unit. Each OP unit acquired upon conversion of an LTIP unit may be redeemed, at the election of the executive, for cash equal to the then fair market value of a share of common stock, except that the Company may, at its election, acquire each OP unit so presented for redemption for one share of common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of James R. Heistand, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-02-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2016-02-18
0000729237
PARKWAY PROPERTIES INC
PKY
0001520993
Heistand James R
390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE
SUITE 2400
ORLANDO
FL
32801
0
1
0
0
PRESIDENT & CEO
Common Stock
2016-02-18
4
A
0
45600
A
1492904
D
Common Stock
29916
I
ACP Laurich Partnership, Ltd.
Common Stock
45000
I
ACP-JRL Partnership, Ltd., a family limited partnership
LTIP Units
2016-02-18
4
A
0
68400
A
Common OP Units
68400
68400
D
Represents time-based RSU awards that will vest 25% on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the executive's continued employment with the Company.
Includes an additional 3,600 shares acquired by 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 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) and Rule 16a-11, respectively.
The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial owership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.
Represents performance-based LTIP units that will vest based on the attainment of targets for total return to stockholders during the performance period running from February 18, 2016 to February 17, 2019, subject to the executive's continued employment with the Company. Subject to the satisfaction of the vesting requirements and certain restrictions set forth in the limited partnership agreement of Parkway Properties LP, each LTIP unit may be converted, at the election of the executive or the Company, into an OP unit. Each OP unit acquired upon conversion of an LTIP unit may be redeemed, at the election of the executive, for cash equal to the then fair market value of a share of common stock, except that the Company may, at its election, acquire each OP unit so presented for redemption for one share of common stock.
/s/ Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of James R. Heistand, as Attorney-in-Fact
2016-02-22