Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility due 2015 [Member]	Jul. 19, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility due 2015 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 5.85% (5.88% effective rate) Notes due 2017 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Variable Rate Term Loan due 2016 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Secured indebtedness [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Secured indebtedness [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured indebtedness [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured indebtedness [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Revolving Credit Facility due 2015 [Member]	Jul. 19, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Revolving Credit Facility due 2015 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] 5.85% (5.88% effective rate) Notes due 2017 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Variable Rate Term Loan due 2016 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Variable Rate Term Loan due 2016 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Secured indebtedness [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Secured indebtedness [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Unsecured indebtedness [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Unsecured indebtedness [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 1,823,128,000		$ 1,823,128,000		$ 1,903,213,000					$ 743,492,000	$ 750,049,000	$ 1,079,636,000	$ 1,153,164,000	$ 1,823,128,000		$ 1,823,128,000		$ 1,903,213,000						$ 743,492,000	$ 750,049,000	$ 1,079,636,000	$ 1,153,164,000
Aggregate undepreciated book value of secured real estate assets										1,237,700,000														1,237,700,000
Maximum borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility						475,000,000													475,000,000
Maturity date on revolving credit facility						Jul. 27, 2015													Jul. 27, 2015
Additional borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility						75,000,000													75,000,000
Credit facility, interest rate basis						LIBOR plus 150 basis points													LIBOR plus 150 basis points
Credit facility, current interest rate (in hundredths)						1.50%													1.50%
Annual facility fee (in hundredths)						0.35%													0.35%
Amount outstanding on revolving credit facility						75,500,000	28,100,000												75,500,000	28,100,000
Outstanding letters of credit on revolving credit facility						100,000	100,000												100,000	100,000
Unused borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility						399,400,000	446,800,000												399,400,000	446,800,000
Principal amount of repurchased debt								12,100,000													12,100,000
Debt instrument maturity date								Mar. 15, 2017													Mar. 15, 2017
Debt instrument, interest rate basis									LIBOR plus 190 basis points													LIBOR plus 190 basis points
Debt instrument, interest rate basis spread (in hundredths)									1.90%														1.90%
Debt instrument, current interest rate (in hundredths)								5.85%													5.85%
Purchase price of debt, percentage of par value (in hundredths)								107.50%													107.50%
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(973,000)	(24,000)	(973,000)	(24,000)				1,000,000						(973,000)	(24,000)	(973,000)	(24,000)				1,000,000
Principal amount of debt									$ 225,000,000													$ 225,000,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)									7 years													7 years