| Document and Entity Information | Aug. 05, 2021 |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | 8-K/A |
| Amendment Flag | true |
| Document Period End Date | Aug. 5, 2021 |
| Entity Registrant Name | Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000077281 |
| Entity File Number | 001-6300 |
| Entity Incorporation State Country Code | PA |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 23-6216339 |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | One Commerce Square |
| Entity Address, Address Line Two | 2005 Market Street |
| Entity Address, Address Line Three | Suite 1000 |
| Entity Address, City or Town | Philadelphia |
| Entity Address, State or Province | PA |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 19103 |
| City Area Code | (215) |
| Local Phone Number | 875-0700 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre Commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
| Amendment Description | On August 5, 2021, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust provided on its website at www.preit.com its Quarterly Supplemental Disclosure dated June 30, 2021. The supplemental disclosure posted on August 5, 2021 included errors in the Debt amounts reported by property on page 26. The correct Debt amounts by property were reported on page 31 of the originally posted supplemental disclosure. An updated Quarterly Supplemental Disclosure dated June 30, 2021 reporting such corrected amounts has been posted on the Company’s website. A copy of the corrected Quarterly Supplemental Disclosure is attached as an exhibit to this report |
| Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $1.00 per share |
| Trading Symbol | PEI |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Series B Preferred Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Series B Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share |
| Trading Symbol | PEIPrB |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Series C Preferred Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Series C Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share |
| Trading Symbol | PEIPrC |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Series D Preferred Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Series D Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share |
| Trading Symbol | PEIPrD |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
