Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 374,212	$ 355,694
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,304,468	3,009,155
Development in process	21,198	0
Land held for development	117,784	105,206
Total real estate assets	3,817,662	3,470,055
Less-accumulated depreciation	(947,567)	(869,046)
Net real estate assets	2,870,095	2,601,009
For-sale residential condominiums	0	4,751
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	124,273
Cash and cash equivalents	13,783	11,188
Restricted cash	19,702	26,666
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $2,848 and $3,548, respectively	23,073	30,093
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $182 and $61, respectively	25,472	18,600
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $929 and $1,294, respectively	116,992	99,490
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	66,800	100,367
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $77,383 and $62,319, respectively	170,023	127,774
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,318 and $15,089, respectively	44,488	36,781
Total Assets	3,350,428	3,180,992
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	1,859,162	1,868,906
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	172,146	148,607
Financing obligations	29,358	30,150
Liabilities held for sale	0	35,815
Total Liabilities	2,060,666	2,083,478
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	124,869	110,655
Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred 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; 80,311,437 and 72,647,697 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	803	726
Additional paid-in capital	2,040,306	1,803,997
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(897,418)	(845,853)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(12,628)	(5,734)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,160,140	982,213
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,753	4,646
Total Equity	1,164,893	986,859
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	3,350,428	3,180,992
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	374,212	355,694
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,304,468	3,009,155
Development in process	21,198	0
Land held for development	117,784	105,206
Total real estate assets	3,817,662	3,470,055
Less-accumulated depreciation	(947,567)	(869,046)
Net real estate assets	2,870,095	2,601,009
For-sale residential condominiums	0	4,751
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	124,273
Cash and cash equivalents	13,867	11,151
Restricted cash	19,702	26,666
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $2,848 and $3,548, respectively	23,073	30,093
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $182 and $61, respectively	25,472	18,600
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $929 and $1,294, respectively	116,992	99,490
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	65,813	99,296
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $77,383 and $62,319, respectively	170,023	127,774
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,318 and $15,089, respectively	44,488	36,781
Total Assets	3,349,525	3,179,884
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	1,859,162	1,868,906
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	172,026	148,607
Financing obligations	29,358	30,150
Liabilities held for sale	0	35,815
Total Liabilities	2,060,546	2,083,478
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 3,733,016 and 3,729,518 outstanding, respectively	124,869	110,655
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 29,077 units issued and outstanding, respectively	29,077	29,077
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	153,946	139,732
Equity:
General partner Common Units, 836,356 and 759,684 outstanding, respectively	11,427	9,575
Limited partner Common Units, 79,066,272 and 71,479,204 outstanding, respectively	1,131,481	948,187
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(12,628)	(5,734)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,753	4,646
Total Equity	1,135,033	956,674
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	$ 3,349,525	$ 3,179,884