Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 1,088,222	$ 1,005,466	$ 717	$ 29,092	$ 52,500	$ 10,044	$ 994,610	$ 1,766,886	$ (3,648)	$ (3,648)	$ 4,460	$ 4,460	$ (761,785)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			71,690,487
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		16,984				170	16,814			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(63,936)				(640)	(63,296)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(3,299)				(33)	(3,266)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			556,652
Issuances of Common Stock, net	16,984		6	0	0			16,978	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			18,737
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	635		0	0	0			635	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(61,069)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(61,069)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(3,299)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(3,299)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(6,957)		0	0	0			(6,957)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(319)	(319)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(319)	(319)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - Shares			133,552
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(52,505)		0	(5)	(52,500)			1,895	0		0		(1,895)
Share-based compensation expense	3,453	3,453	1	0	0	35	3,418	3,452	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(4,817)				(48)	(4,769)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,130)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(1,130)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(3)	(302)	0	0	0	305	305	(305)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	26,877	26,889	0	0	0	269	26,620	0	0	0	0	0	26,877
Other comprehensive loss	(529)	(529)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(529)	(529)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	26,348	26,360
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	1,010,363	979,892	724	29,087	0	9,794	969,829	1,782,889	(4,177)	(4,177)	4,446	4,446	(802,606)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2011			72,399,428
Balance at Mar. 31, 2011
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(623)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	14,434	14,438
Other comprehensive loss	(365)	(365)
Total comprehensive income	14,069	14,073
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	1,010,363	979,892
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	986,859	956,674	726	29,077		9,575	948,187	1,803,997	(5,734)	(5,734)	4,646	4,646	(845,853)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	72,647,697		72,647,697
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		91,836				918	90,918			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(65,597)				(656)	(64,941)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,254)				(13)	(1,241)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			2,794,340
Issuances of Common Stock, net	91,836		28	0				91,808	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			18,366
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	631		0	0				631	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(62,787)		0	0				0	0		0		(62,787)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,254)		0	0				0	0		0		(1,254)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(16,501)		0	0				(16,501)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(460)	(460)	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	(460)	(460)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - Shares			158,885
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0				0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense	4,459	4,459	2	0		45	4,414	4,457	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(14,438)				(144)	(14,294)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,513)		0	0				0	0		0		(1,513)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0		(4)	(403)	0	0		407	407	(407)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	32,830	32,835	0	0		328	32,507	0	0	0	0	0	32,830
Other comprehensive loss	(5,045)	(5,045)	0	0		0	0	0	(5,045)	(5,045)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	27,785	27,790
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	1,029,055	999,010	756	29,077		10,049	995,147	1,884,392	(10,779)	(10,779)	4,593	4,593	(878,984)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2012	75,619,288		75,619,288
Balance at Mar. 31, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(686)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	14,498	14,501
Other comprehensive loss	(6,403)	(6,403)
Total comprehensive income	8,095	8,098
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 1,029,055	$ 999,010
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2012	75,619,288