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, 2009	$ 1,133,143	$ 1,050,185	$ 713	$ 29,092	$ 52,500	$ 10,485	$ 1,038,328	$ 1,751,398	$ (3,811)	$ (3,811)	$ 5,183	$ 5,183	$ (701,932)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			71,285,303
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		2,998				30	2,968			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(127,417)				(1,274)	(126,143)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(6,708)				(67)	(6,641)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			143,907
Issuances of Common Stock, net	2,998		1	0	0			2,997	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			97,134
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	3,061		1	0	0			3,060	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(121,643)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(121,643)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(6,708)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(6,708)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	2,721		0	0	0			2,721	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(568)	(568)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(568)	(568)	0
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate	(500)	(500)	0	0	0	1	139	140	0	0	(640)	(640)	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			164,143
Issuances of restricted stock, net	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense	6,572	6,572	2	0	0	66	6,506	6,570	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		8,465				85	8,380			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,320)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(3,320)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(5)	(480)	0	0	0	485	485	(485)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	72,303	72,276	0	0	0	723	71,553	0	0	0	0	0	72,303
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	163	163	0	0	0	0	0	0	163	163	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	72,466	72,439
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]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(507)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	12,443	12,451
Balance at Mar. 31, 2011
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		23,270				233	23,037			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(128,463)				(1,285)	(127,178)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(4,553)				(46)	(4,507)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			758,389
Issuances of Common Stock, net	23,270		8	0	0			23,262	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			64,469
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	1,906		0	0	0			1,906	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(122,745)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(122,745)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(4,553)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(4,553)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	3,955		0	0	0			3,955	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(569)	(569)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(569)	(569)	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			134,352
Issuances of restricted stock, net	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	6,094	6,094	1	0	0	61	6,033	6,093	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		9,483				96	9,387			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,091)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(2,091)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(8)	(747)	0	0	0	755	755	(755)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	47,971	48,032	0	0	0	480	47,552	0	0	0	0	0	47,971
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(2,086)	(2,086)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(2,086)	(2,086)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	45,885	45,946
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	986,859	956,674	726	29,077	0	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
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(595)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	12,850	12,899
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	986,859	956,674
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	72,647,697
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(827)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	18,332	18,334
Balance at Mar. 31, 2012
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	986,859	956,674	726	29,077	0	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		245,467				2,455	243,012			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(134,291)				(1,343)	(132,948)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(2,508)				(25)	(2,483)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			7,441,489
Issuances of Common Stock, net	243,168		74	0	0			243,094	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			63,366
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	2,096		0	0	0			2,096	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(128,652)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(128,652)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(2,508)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(2,508)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(16,491)		0	0	0			(16,491)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(679)	(679)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(679)	(679)	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			158,885
Issuances of restricted stock, net	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense	7,613	7,613	3	0	0	76	7,537	7,610	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(14,644)				(146)	(14,498)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,854)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(3,854)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(8)	(778)	0	0	0	786	786	(786)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	84,235	84,295	0	0	0	843	83,452	0	0	0	0	0	84,235
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(6,894)	(6,894)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(6,894)	(6,894)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	77,341	77,401
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,164,893	1,135,033	803	29,077	0	11,427	1,131,481	2,040,306	(12,628)	(12,628)	4,753	4,753	(897,418)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	80,311,437		80,311,437
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(688)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	15,609	15,660
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,164,893	$ 1,135,033
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	80,311,437