Mortgages and Notes Receivable (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 acre	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010 Seller Financing [Member] transactions	Dec. 31, 2012 Seller Financing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Seller Financing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] acre	Dec. 31, 2011 Mortgage Receivable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Promissory Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Promissory Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] acre	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Seller Financing [Member] transactions	Dec. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Seller Financing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Seller Financing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Mortgage Receivable [Member] acre	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Mortgage Receivable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Promissory Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Promissory Notes [Member]
Mortgages and Notes Receivable, Net [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, gross				$ 15,853,000	$ 17,180,000	$ 8,648,000	$ 0	$ 1,153,000	$ 1,481,000				$ 15,853,000	$ 17,180,000	$ 8,648,000	$ 0	$ 1,153,000	$ 1,481,000
Mortgages and notes receivable, allowance	(182,000)	(61,000)		0	0	0		(182,000)	(61,000)	(182,000)	(61,000)		0	0	0		(182,000)	(61,000)
Mortgages and notes receivable, net	25,472,000	18,600,000		15,853,000	17,180,000	8,648,000	0	971,000	1,420,000	25,472,000	18,600,000		15,853,000	17,180,000	8,648,000	0	971,000	1,420,000
Number of transactions with seller financing			2									2
Acquisition of development land (in acres)						77									77
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres)	649					68				649					68
Mortgage receivable, maturity date						Dec. 01, 2015									Dec. 01, 2015
Mortgage receivable, current interest rate (in hundredths)						5.00%									5.00%
Term of optional extension						3 years									3 years
Additional loan commitment to third party						8,400,000									8,400,000
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning notes receivable allowance	61,000	868,000		0	0	0		182,000	61,000	61,000	868,000		0	0	0		182,000	61,000
Bad debt expense	186,000	196,000								186,000	196,000
Recoveries/write-offs/other	(65,000)	(1,003,000)								(65,000)	(1,003,000)
Total notes receivable allowance	$ 182,000	$ 61,000		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		$ 182,000	$ 61,000	$ 182,000	$ 61,000		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		$ 182,000	$ 61,000