Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 345,791	$ 345,088
Buildings and tenant improvements	2,886,871	2,883,092
Development in process	13,317	4,524
Land held for development	106,871	107,101
Total real estate assets	3,352,850	3,339,805
Less-accumulated depreciation	(863,730)	(830,153)
Net real estate assets	2,489,120	2,509,652
For-sale residential condominiums	5,840	8,225
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	11,609	13,607
Cash and cash equivalents	9,239	14,206	23,699
Restricted cash	7,619	4,399
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,470 and $3,595, respectively	22,952	20,716
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $617 and $868, respectively	18,809	19,044
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,360 and $2,209, respectively	99,466	93,178
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	103,025	63,607
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $62,542 and $59,360, respectively	85,168	85,001
Prepaid expenses and other assets	36,633	40,200
Total Assets	2,889,480	2,871,835
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	1,615,068	1,522,945
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	106,105	106,716
Financing obligations	32,869	33,114
Total Liabilities	1,754,042	1,662,775
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	125,075	120,838	129,769
Equity:
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 72,399,428 and 71,690,487 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	724	717
Additional paid-in capital	1,782,889	1,766,886
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(802,606)	(761,785)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,177)	(3,648)
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,005,917	1,083,762
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,446	4,460
Total Equity	1,010,363	1,088,222	1,133,143
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	2,889,480	2,871,835
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	345,791	345,088
Buildings and tenant improvements	2,886,871	2,883,092
Development in process	13,317	4,524
Land held for development	106,871	107,101
Total real estate assets	3,352,850	3,339,805
Less-accumulated depreciation	(863,730)	(830,153)
Net real estate assets	2,489,120	2,509,652
For-sale residential condominiums	5,840	8,225
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	11,609	13,607
Cash and cash equivalents	9,087	14,198	23,519
Restricted cash	7,619	4,399
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,470 and $3,595, respectively	22,952	20,716
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $617 and $868, respectively	18,809	19,044
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,360 and $2,209, respectively	99,466	93,178
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	101,893	62,451
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $62,542 and $59,360, respectively	85,168	85,001
Prepaid expenses and other assets	36,533	40,200
Total Assets	2,888,096	2,870,671
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	1,615,068	1,522,945
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	106,105	106,716
Financing obligations	32,869	33,114
Total Liabilities	1,754,042	1,662,775
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 3,775,250 and 3,793,987 outstanding, respectively	125,075	120,838
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	154,162	202,430
Equity:
General partner Common Units, 757,659 and 750,757 outstanding, respectively	9,794	10,044
Limited partner Common Units, 71,232,960 and 70,530,921 outstanding, respectively	969,829	994,610
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,177)	(3,648)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,446	4,460
Total Equity	979,892	1,005,466	1,050,185
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	2,888,096	2,870,671
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Series A Preferred Units [Member]
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Preferred Units	29,087	29,092
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Series B Preferred Units [Member]
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Preferred Units	0	52,500
8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Equity:
Preferred Stock	29,087	29,092
8.000% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Equity:
Preferred Stock	$ 0	$ 52,500