Investments In and Advances To Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Income Statements:
Rental and other revenues	$ 23,516,000	$ 24,820,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	11,209,000	11,416,000
Depreciation and amortization	6,146,000	6,565,000
Impairments of real estate assets	4,790,000	7,180,000
Interest expense	4,739,000	5,830,000
Total expenses	26,884,000	30,991,000
Loss before disposition of properties	(3,368,000)	(6,171,000)
Gains on disposition of properties	24,000	0
Net loss	(3,344,000)	(6,171,000)
Our share of:
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets	2,015,000	2,098,000
Impairments of real estate assets	1,020,000	1,002,000
Interest expense	1,752,000	1,980,000
Our share of gains recorded on disposition of property	421,000	0
Net income/(loss)	4,000	(795,000)
Our share of net income/(loss)	4,000	(795,000)
Adjustments for management and other fees	432,000	633,000
Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	436,000	(162,000)
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum (in hundredths)	50.00%
Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Impairments of real estate assets	4,790,000
Our share of:
Impairments of real estate assets	1,020,000
Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of properties	24,000
Our share of:
Our share of gains recorded on disposition of property	421,000
Proceeds received from disposition of property	10,100,000
Closing credits for free rent	300,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Statements:
Rental and other revenues	22,479,000	23,797,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	10,608,000	10,801,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,835,000	6,254,000
Impairments of real estate assets	4,790,000	7,180,000
Interest expense	4,578,000	5,663,000
Total expenses	25,811,000	29,898,000
Loss before disposition of properties	(3,332,000)	(6,101,000)
Gains on disposition of properties	24,000	0
Net loss	(3,308,000)	(6,101,000)
Our share of:
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets	1,976,000	2,059,000
Impairments of real estate assets	1,020,000	1,002,000
Interest expense	1,732,000	1,959,000
Our share of gains recorded on disposition of property	421,000	0
Net income/(loss)	8,000	(786,000)
Our share of net income/(loss)	8,000	(786,000)
Adjustments for management and other fees	375,000	626,000
Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	383,000	(160,000)
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum (in hundredths)	50.00%
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Impairments of real estate assets	4,790,000
Our share of:
Impairments of real estate assets	1,020,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of properties	24,000
Our share of:
Our share of gains recorded on disposition of property	421,000
Proceeds received from disposition of property	10,100,000
Closing credits for free rent	$ 300,000