Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	$ (70,572,000)		$ (70,572,000)		$ (62,319,000)
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	126,680,000		126,680,000		127,774,000
Acquired in-place lease intangible assets	2,700,000		2,700,000
Deferred Financing Costs [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, gross	20,112,000		20,112,000		18,044,000
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	(7,488,000)		(7,488,000)		(5,797,000)
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	12,624,000		12,624,000		12,247,000
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	900,000	821,000	1,802,000	1,642,000
Deferred Leasing Costs [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, gross	177,140,000		177,140,000		172,049,000
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	(63,084,000)		(63,084,000)		(56,522,000)
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	114,056,000		114,056,000		115,527,000
Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	104,165,000		104,165,000
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	7,266,000	4,401,000	13,706,000	8,757,000
Lease Incentives [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	6,718,000		6,718,000
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	340,000	303,000	683,000	641,000
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	3,173,000		3,173,000
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	324,000	191,000	594,000	377,000
Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, gross	16,346,000		16,346,000		16,441,000
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, accumulated amortization	(1,966,000)		(1,966,000)		(971,000)
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, net	14,380,000		14,380,000		15,470,000
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	(553,000)	(25,000)	(1,097,000)	(50,000)
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	(70,572,000)		(70,572,000)		(62,319,000)
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	126,680,000		126,680,000		127,774,000
Acquired in-place lease intangible assets	2,700,000		2,700,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Deferred Financing Costs [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, gross	20,112,000		20,112,000		18,044,000
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	(7,488,000)		(7,488,000)		(5,797,000)
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	12,624,000		12,624,000		12,247,000
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	900,000	821,000	1,802,000	1,642,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Deferred Leasing Costs [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, gross	177,140,000		177,140,000		172,049,000
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	(63,084,000)		(63,084,000)		(56,522,000)
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	114,056,000		114,056,000		115,527,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	104,165,000		104,165,000
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	7,266,000	4,401,000	13,706,000	8,757,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Lease Incentives [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	6,718,000		6,718,000
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	340,000	303,000	683,000	641,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	3,173,000		3,173,000
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	324,000	191,000	594,000	377,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities [Member]
Intangible assets and below market lease liabilities, net [Abstract]
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, gross	16,346,000		16,346,000		16,441,000
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, accumulated amortization	(1,966,000)		(1,966,000)		(971,000)
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, net	14,380,000		14,380,000		15,470,000
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$ (553,000)	$ (25,000)	$ (1,097,000)	$ (50,000)