Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 2,044		$ 2,907	$ 4,383		$ 6,169
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	966		1,390	2,084		2,862
Depreciation and amortization	322		778	1,008		1,653
Total operating expenses	1,288		2,168	3,092		4,515
Income from discontinued operations	756		739	1,291		1,654
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	1,385		0	6,519		0
Total discontinued operations	2,141		739	7,810		1,654
Assets:
Land	3,849			3,849			5,749
Buildings and tenant improvements	49,460			49,460			65,860
Less accumulated depreciation	(18,743)			(18,743)			(23,917)
Net real estate assets	34,566			34,566			47,692
Accrued straight line rents receivable	1,490			1,490			1,726
Deferred leasing costs, net	678			678			811
Prepaid expenses and other assets	17			17			106
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	36,751			36,751			50,335
Tenant security deposits, deferred rents and accrued costs	595	[1]		595	[1]		238	[1]
Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]
Assets:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net							1
Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member]
Assets:
Number of residential properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net							96
Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition [Member]
Assets:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net	5			5			5
Kansas City, MO Office Property Held For Sale [Member]
Assets:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net	1			1			1
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	2,044		2,907	4,383		6,169
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	966		1,390	2,084		2,862
Depreciation and amortization	322		778	1,008		1,653
Total operating expenses	1,288		2,168	3,092		4,515
Income from discontinued operations	756		739	1,291		1,654
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	1,385		0	6,519		0
Total discontinued operations	2,141		739	7,810		1,654
Assets:
Land	3,849			3,849			5,749
Buildings and tenant improvements	49,460			49,460			65,860
Less accumulated depreciation	(18,743)			(18,743)			(23,917)
Net real estate assets	34,566			34,566			47,692
Accrued straight line rents receivable	1,490			1,490			1,726
Deferred leasing costs, net	678			678			811
Prepaid expenses and other assets	17			17			106
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	36,751			36,751			50,335
Tenant security deposits, deferred rents and accrued costs	$ 595	[1]		$ 595	[1]		$ 238	[1]
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]
Assets:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net							1
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member]
Assets:
Number of residential properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net							96
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition [Member]
Assets:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net							5
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Kansas City, MO Office Property Held For Sale [Member]
Assets:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net							1

[1] Included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities.