Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Discontinued operations [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues	$ 875	$ 5,301	$ 10,120	$ 16,219
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	293	2,199	3,766	6,572
Depreciation and amortization	0	1,269	2,009	3,935
Total operating expenses	293	3,468	5,775	10,507
Interest expense	35	119	283	364
Income from discontinued operations	547	1,714	4,062	5,348
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	22,936	2,573	29,455	2,573
Total discontinued operations	23,483	4,287	33,517	7,921
Assets, held for sale [Abstract]
Land	0		0		14,077
Buildings and tenant improvements	0		0		135,013
Less accumulated depreciation	0		0		(32,254)
Net real estate assets	0		0		116,836
Accrued straight line rents receivable	0		0		6,520
Deferred leasing costs, net	0		0		811
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0		0		106
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0		0		124,273
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable	0		0		34,307
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0		0		214
Financing obligations	0		0		1,294
Liabilities, net, held for sale	0		0		35,815
Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net					1
Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member]
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
Number of residential properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net					96
Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition [Member]
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net					5
Kansas City, MO Office Property Held For Sale [Member]
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net					1
Atlanta, GA and Jackson, MS Office Properties Disposition [Member]
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net					3
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Discontinued operations [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues	875	5,301	10,120	16,219
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	293	2,199	3,766	6,572
Depreciation and amortization	0	1,269	2,009	3,935
Total operating expenses	293	3,468	5,775	10,507
Interest expense	35	119	283	364
Income from discontinued operations	547	1,714	4,062	5,348
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	22,936	2,573	29,455	2,573
Total discontinued operations	23,483	4,287	33,517	7,921
Assets, held for sale [Abstract]
Land	0		0		14,077
Buildings and tenant improvements	0		0		135,013
Less accumulated depreciation	0		0		(32,254)
Net real estate assets	0		0		116,836
Accrued straight line rents receivable	0		0		6,520
Deferred leasing costs, net	0		0		811
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0		0		106
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0		0		124,273
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable	0		0		34,307
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0		0		214
Financing obligations	0		0		1,294
Liabilities, net, held for sale	$ 0		$ 0		$ 35,815
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
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]
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
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]
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
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]
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net					1
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Atlanta, GA and Jackson, MS Office Properties Disposition [Member]
Liabilities, held for sale [Abstract]
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net					3