Mortgages and Notes Receivable (Details) (USD $)			3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 acre	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Seller Financing [Member] transactions	Dec. 31, 2012 Seller Financing [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] acre	Mar. 31, 2013 Promissory Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Promissory Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Promissory Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] acre	Dec. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Seller Financing [Member] transactions	Dec. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Seller Financing [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Mortgage Receivable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Mortgage Receivable [Member] acre	Mar. 31, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Promissory Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Promissory Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Promissory Notes [Member]
Schedule of mortgages and notes receivable [Abstract]
Financing receivable, gross			$ 15,853,000	$ 15,853,000	$ 8,648,000	$ 8,648,000	$ 1,408,000		$ 1,153,000			$ 15,853,000	$ 15,853,000	$ 8,648,000	$ 8,648,000	$ 1,408,000		$ 1,153,000
Mortgages and notes receivable, allowance	(437,000)	(182,000)	0		0	0	(437,000)	(122,000)		(437,000)	(182,000)	0		0	0	(437,000)	(122,000)
Mortgages and notes receivable, net	25,472,000	25,472,000	15,853,000	15,853,000	8,648,000	8,648,000	971,000		971,000	25,472,000	25,472,000	15,853,000	15,853,000	8,648,000	8,648,000	971,000		971,000
Financing receivable, gross			15,853,000	15,853,000	8,648,000	8,648,000	1,408,000		1,153,000			15,853,000	15,853,000	8,648,000	8,648,000	1,408,000		1,153,000
Number of transactions with seller financing			2									2
Acquisition of development land (in acres)						77									77
Acquisition development land (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
Cumulative funds for future infrastructure disbursed to third party					100,000									100,000
Notes receivable allowance, promissory notes [Roll Forward]
Beginning notes receivable allowance	(437,000)	(182,000)	0		0		(182,000)	(61,000)		(437,000)	(182,000)	0		0		(182,000)	(61,000)
Recoveries/write-offs/other							255,000	61,000								255,000	61,000
Total notes receivable allowance	$ (437,000)	$ (182,000)	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0	$ (437,000)	$ (122,000)		$ (437,000)	$ (182,000)	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0	$ (437,000)	$ (122,000)