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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-08-22</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001520994</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pratt Henry F III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORLANDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP OF ASSET MANAGEMENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-08-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5983</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>149006</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exludes  15,387 previously reported performance-based restricted shares granted pursuant to the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended,  on July 12, 2010 with the vesting based  upon the satisfaction of certain performance goals established by the Compensation Committee with respect to the three-year period ending June 30, 2013.  The performance criteria were not met and these restricted shares were not earned.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of Henry F. Pratt as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-08-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-08-22
0000729237
PARKWAY PROPERTIES INC
PKY
0001520994
Pratt Henry F III
390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE
SUITE 2400
ORLANDO
FL
0
1
0
0
EVP OF ASSET MANAGEMENT
Common Stock
2013-08-22
4
A
0
5983
17.95
A
149006
D
Exludes  15,387 previously reported performance-based restricted shares granted pursuant to the Company's 2010 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended,  on July 12, 2010 with the vesting based  upon the satisfaction of certain performance goals established by the Compensation Committee with respect to the three-year period ending June 30, 2013.  The performance criteria were not met and these restricted shares were not earned.
/s/Jeremy Dorsett, on behalf of Henry F. Pratt as Attorney-in-Fact
2013-08-26