Investments In and Advances To Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012 property	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Income Statements:
Rental and other revenues	$ 26,049,000		$ 24,779,000	$ 50,869,000	$ 49,996,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	12,666,000		10,774,000	24,082,000	22,771,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,919,000		6,295,000	12,484,000	12,911,000
Impairment of real estate assets	0		0	7,180,000	0
Interest expense	5,267,000		5,858,000	11,097,000	11,865,000
Total expenses	23,852,000		22,927,000	54,843,000	47,547,000
Income/(loss) before disposition of properties	2,197,000		1,852,000	(3,974,000)	2,449,000
Gains on disposition of properties	6,275,000		0	6,275,000	0
Net income/(loss)	8,472,000		1,852,000	2,301,000	2,449,000
Our share of:
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets	1,675,000		2,033,000	3,773,000	4,126,000
Our share of impairment of real estate assets	0		0	1,002,000	0
Interest expense	1,843,000		2,033,000	3,823,000	4,194,000
Net income/(loss)	1,133,000		749,000	338,000	1,670,000
Our share of net income/(loss)	1,133,000		749,000	338,000	1,670,000
Management and other fees adjustments	375,000		604,000	1,008,000	1,150,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	1,508,000		1,353,000	1,346,000	2,820,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%			50.00%
Our share of impairment of real estate assets	0		0	1,002,000	0
Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Our share of impairment of real estate assets		1,000,000
Advances to Affiliates loan amount	38,300,000
Loan maturity date	Mar. 31, 2012
Advances to affiliates, interest rate basis	LIBOR plus 500 basis points
Current interest rate (in hundredths)	5.00%			5.00%
Extended loan maturity date	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest income from loan to affiliate	200,000		300,000	700,000	300,000
Our share of impairment of real estate assets		1,000,000
Number of impaired office properties		2
Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Joint venture principal amount of debt	50,000,000			50,000,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)	3 years			3 years
Fixed interest rate (in hundredths)	3.50%			3.50%
Amount of loan related to fixed interest rate	39,100,000			39,100,000
Floating interest rate, interest rate basis	LIBOR plus 250 basis points
Current floating interest rate (in hundredths)	2.50%			2.50%
Amount of loan related to floating interest rate	10,900,000			10,900,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Statements:
Rental and other revenues	25,057,000		23,756,000	48,854,000	47,958,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	12,076,000		10,155,000	22,877,000	21,526,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,607,000		6,053,000	11,861,000	12,299,000
Impairment of real estate assets	0		0	7,180,000	0
Interest expense	5,103,000		5,683,000	10,766,000	11,508,000
Total expenses	22,786,000		21,891,000	52,684,000	45,333,000
Income/(loss) before disposition of properties	2,271,000		1,865,000	(3,830,000)	2,625,000
Gains on disposition of properties	6,275,000		0	6,275,000	0
Net income/(loss)	8,546,000		1,865,000	2,445,000	2,625,000
Our share of:
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets	1,636,000		1,995,000	3,695,000	4,050,000
Our share of impairment of real estate assets	0		0	1,002,000	0
Interest expense	1,823,000		2,012,000	3,782,000	4,149,000
Net income/(loss)	1,142,000		759,000	356,000	1,694,000
Our share of net income/(loss)	1,142,000		759,000	356,000	1,694,000
Management and other fees adjustments	369,000		598,000	995,000	1,138,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	1,511,000		1,357,000	1,351,000	2,832,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%			50.00%
Our share of impairment of real estate assets	0		0	1,002,000	0
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Our share of impairment of real estate assets		1,000,000
Advances to Affiliates loan amount	38,300,000
Loan maturity date	Mar. 31, 2012
Advances to affiliates, interest rate basis	LIBOR plus 500 basis points
Current interest rate (in hundredths)	5.00%			5.00%
Extended loan maturity date	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest income from loan to affiliate	200,000		300,000	700,000	300,000
Our share of impairment of real estate assets		1,000,000
Number of impaired office properties		2
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Joint venture principal amount of debt	50,000,000			50,000,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)	3 years			3 years
Fixed interest rate (in hundredths)	3.50%			3.50%
Amount of loan related to fixed interest rate	39,100,000			39,100,000
Floating interest rate, interest rate basis	LIBOR plus 250 basis points
Current floating interest rate (in hundredths)	2.50%			2.50%
Amount of loan related to floating interest rate	$ 10,900,000			$ 10,900,000