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		22,043				220	21,823			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(96,197)				(962)	(95,235)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(3,926)				(39)	(3,887)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			711,234
Issuances of Common Stock, net	22,043		7	0	0			22,036	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			43,308
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	1,344		0	0	0			1,344	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(91,900)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(91,900)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(3,926)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(3,926)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	10,177		0	0	0			10,177	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(391)	(391)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(391)	(391)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - Shares			134,352
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(52,515)		0	(15)	(52,500)			1,895	0		0		(1,895)
Share-based compensation expense	4,771	4,771	2	0	0	48	4,723	4,769	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		14,239				144	14,095			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,496)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(1,496)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(6)	(548)	0	0	0	554	554	(554)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	35,121	35,133	0	0	0	351	34,782	0	0	0	0	0	35,121
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	42	42	0	0	0	0	0	0	42	42	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	35,163	35,175
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	1,011,492	981,180	726	29,077	0	9,800	970,363	1,807,107	(3,606)	(3,606)	4,623	4,623	(826,435)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2011			72,579,381
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(366)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	8,244	8,244
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	570	570
Total comprehensive income	8,814	8,814
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	1,011,492	981,180
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		188,973				1,890	187,083			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(99,334)				(994)	(98,340)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,881)				(19)	(1,862)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			5,701,974
Issuances of Common Stock, net	186,674		57	0				186,617	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			21,366
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	731		0	0				731	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(95,122)		0	0				0	0		0		(95,122)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,881)		0	0				0	0		0		(1,881)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(12,485)		0	0				(12,485)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(663)	(663)	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	(663)	(663)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - Shares			158,885
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0				0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense	6,464	6,464	2	0		65	6,399	6,462	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(12,814)				(128)	(12,686)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,166)		0	0				0	0		0		(3,166)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0		(6)	(560)	0	0	0	566	566	(566)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	68,626	68,635	0	0		686	67,949	0	0	0	0	0	68,626
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(7,692)	(7,692)	0	0		0	0	0	(7,692)	(7,692)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	60,934	60,943
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	1,128,345	1,098,362	785	29,077		11,069	1,096,170	1,985,322	(13,426)	(13,426)	4,549	4,549	(877,962)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012	78,529,922		78,529,922
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,653)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	35,796	35,800
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(2,647)	(2,647)
Total comprehensive income	33,149	33,153
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 1,128,345	$ 1,098,362
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012	78,529,922