Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities - Scheduled Future Amortization (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 170,023	$ 127,774
Deferred Financing Costs [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
2013	3,521
2014	3,224
2015	2,594
2016	1,519
2017	1,225
Thereafter	1,814
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	13,897	12,247
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	4 years 7 months 12 days
Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
2013	29,636
2014	25,200
2015	20,391
2016	16,877
2017	14,141
Thereafter	33,569
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	139,814
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	6 years 11 months
Lease Incentives [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
2013	1,314
2014	1,163
2015	928
2016	734
2017	654
Thereafter	2,065
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	6,858
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	7 years 8 months 15 days
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenue) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
2013	1,277
2014	989
2015	754
2016	659
2017	587
Thereafter	780
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	5,046
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	5 years 7 months 12 days
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	5 years 3 months 15 days
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (amortized in Depreciation and Amortization) [Member]
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	8 years 8 months 15 days
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
2013	553
2014	553
2015	553
2016	553
2017	553
Thereafter	1,643
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	4,408
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	8 years
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	8 years
Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilites [Abstract]
2013	(4,149)
2014	(4,067)
2015	(3,801)
2016	(3,499)
2017	(3,256)
Thereafter	(14,864)
Total scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilities	(33,636)	(15,470)
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Below market lease liabilities, weighted average useful life (in years)	9 years 11 months
Assumed below market lease liabilities, weighted average useful life (in years)	10 years 7 months 12 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	170,023	127,774
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Deferred Financing Costs [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
2013	3,521
2014	3,224
2015	2,594
2016	1,519
2017	1,225
Thereafter	1,814
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	13,897	12,247
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	4 years 7 months 12 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
2013	29,636
2014	25,200
2015	20,391
2016	16,877
2017	14,141
Thereafter	33,569
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	139,814
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	6 years 11 months
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Lease Incentives [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
2013	1,314
2014	1,163
2015	928
2016	734
2017	654
Thereafter	2,065
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	6,858
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	7 years 8 months 15 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenue) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
2013	1,277
2014	989
2015	754
2016	659
2017	587
Thereafter	780
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	5,046
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	5 years 7 months 12 days
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	5 years 3 months 15 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (amortized in Depreciation and Amortization) [Member]
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	8 years 8 months 15 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
2013	553
2014	553
2015	553
2016	553
2017	553
Thereafter	1,643
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	4,408
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	8 years
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful life (in years)	8 years
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilites [Abstract]
2013	(4,149)
2014	(4,067)
2015	(3,801)
2016	(3,499)
2017	(3,256)
Thereafter	(14,864)
Total scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilities	$ (33,636)	$ (15,470)
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Below market lease liabilities, weighted average useful life (in years)	9 years 11 months
Assumed below market lease liabilities, weighted average useful life (in years)	10 years 7 months 12 days