Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 371,478	$ 355,694
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,200,350	3,009,155
Development in process	11,566	0
Land held for development	102,482	105,206
Total real estate assets	3,685,876	3,470,055
Less-accumulated depreciation	(926,668)	(869,046)
Net real estate assets	2,759,208	2,601,009
For-sale residential condominiums	1,238	4,751
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	124,273
Cash and cash equivalents	9,086	11,188
Restricted cash	21,578	26,666
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,437 and $3,548, respectively	21,144	30,093
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $211 and $61, respectively	16,943	18,600
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,076 and $1,294, respectively	112,660	99,490
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	78,406	100,367
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $73,579 and $62,319, respectively	149,170	127,774
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,585 and $15,089, respectively	40,452	36,781
Total Assets	3,209,885	3,180,992
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity: [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable	1,778,555	1,868,906
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	152,053	148,607
Financing obligations	27,791	30,150
Liabilities, net, held for sale	0	35,815
Total Liabilities	1,958,399	2,083,478
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	123,141	110,655
Equity: [Abstract]
8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares, liquidation preference $1,000 per share; 29,077 shares issued and outstanding	29,077	29,077
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 78,529,922 and 72,647,697 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	785	726
Additional paid-in capital	1,985,322	1,803,997
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(877,962)	(845,853)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(13,426)	(5,734)
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,123,796	982,213
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,549	4,646
Total Equity	1,128,345	986,859
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	3,209,885	3,180,992
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	371,478	355,694
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,200,350	3,009,155
Development in process	11,566	0
Land held for development	102,482	105,206
Total real estate assets	3,685,876	3,470,055
Less-accumulated depreciation	(926,668)	(869,046)
Net real estate assets	2,759,208	2,601,009
For-sale residential condominiums	1,238	4,751
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	124,273
Cash and cash equivalents	9,174	11,151
Restricted cash	21,578	26,666
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,437 and $3,548, respectively	21,144	30,093
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $211 and $61, respectively	16,943	18,600
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,076 and $1,294, respectively	112,660	99,490
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	77,364	99,296
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $73,579 and $62,319, respectively	149,170	127,774
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,585 and $15,089, respectively	40,410	36,781
Total Assets	3,208,889	3,179,884
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity: [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable	1,778,555	1,868,906
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	151,963	148,607
Financing obligations	27,791	30,150
Liabilities, net, held for sale	0	35,815
Total Liabilities	1,958,309	2,083,478
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units: [Abstract]
Common Units, 3,775,016 and 3,729,518 outstanding, respectively	123,141	110,655
Series A Preferred Units, liquidation preference $1,000 per unit; 29,077 units issued and outstanding	29,077	29,077
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	152,218	139,732
Equity: [Abstract]
General partner Common Units, 818,961 and 759,684 outstanding, respectively	11,069	9,575
Limited partner Common Units, 77,302,152 and 71,479,204 outstanding, respectively	1,096,170	948,187
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(13,426)	(5,734)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,549	4,646
Total Equity	1,098,362	956,674
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	$ 3,208,889	$ 3,179,884