Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jul. 05, 2012 ATM Equity Offering Sales [Member]	Jul. 13, 2012 Greensboro, NC Medical Office Properties Acquisition [Member] property	Jul. 13, 2012 Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition [Member] property	Jul. 25, 2012 General Services Administration Buildings Disposition [Member] property	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]	Jul. 05, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] ATM Equity Offering Sales [Member]	Jul. 13, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Greensboro, NC Medical Office Properties Acquisition [Member] property	Jul. 13, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition [Member] property	Jul. 25, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] General Services Administration Buildings Disposition [Member] property
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Common Stock sold at the market during period (in shares)	1,836,976		2,622,476		451,300				1,836,976		2,622,476		451,300
Average price of Common Stock sold at the market during period (in dollars per share)	$ 33.72		$ 33.45		$ 33.52				$ 33.72		$ 33.45		$ 33.52
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold at the market during period	$ 61,000,000		$ 86,400,000		$ 14,900,000				$ 61,000,000		$ 86,400,000		$ 14,900,000
Number of office properties acquired						2								2
Acquisition purchase price						16,400,000								16,400,000
Common Units Of Partnership Issued						77,000								77,000
Acquisition-related costs						100,000								100,000
Number of office properties sold							5	3							5	3
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate							41,000,000	86,500,000							41,000,000	86,500,000
Gains on disposition of discontinued operations	$ 1,385,000	$ 0	$ 6,519,000	$ 0			$ 6,800,000	$ 14,000,000	$ 1,385,000	$ 0	$ 6,519,000	$ 0			$ 6,800,000	$ 14,000,000