Consolidated Balance Sheets Parentheticals Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 2,848	$ 3,548
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	182	61
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	929	1,294
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	77,383	62,319
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	12,318	15,089
Equity:
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Preferred Stock, shares issued (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Preferred Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued (in shares)	80,311,437	72,647,697
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	80,311,437	72,647,697
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	2,848	3,548
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	182	61
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	929	1,294
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	77,383	62,319
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	$ 12,318	$ 15,089
Equity:
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Redeemable Common Units, outstanding (in shares)	3,733,016	3,729,518
Preferred Units liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Series A Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Common Units:
General partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	836,356	759,684
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	79,066,272	71,479,204