Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Rental and other revenues	$ 137,030		$ 124,894
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	48,941		44,378
Depreciation and amortization	42,144		36,983
Impairments of real estate assets	415		0
General and administrative	10,582		9,673
Total operating expenses	102,082		91,034
Interest expense:
Contractual	22,798		23,851
Amortization of deferred financing costs	949		902
Financing obligations	121		(76)
Total interest expense	23,868		24,677
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,783		2,230
Losses on debt extinguishment	(164)		0
Total other income	1,619		2,230
Income from continuing operations before disposition of condominiums and equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	12,699		11,413
Gains on for-sale residential condominiums	0		65
Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	436		(162)
Income from continuing operations	13,135		11,316
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	94		1,882
Impairments of real estate assets held for sale	(713)		0
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	1,244		5,134
Total discontinued operations	625		7,016
Net income	13,760		18,332
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(581)		(827)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(203)		(184)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)
Net income available for common stockholders	12,349		16,694
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14		$ 0.14
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.09
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.23
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	81,029	[1],[2]	72,836	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14		$ 0.14
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.09
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.23
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	84,862	[2]	76,696	[2]
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	11,752		10,022
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	597		6,672
Net income available for common stockholders	12,349		16,694
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	137,030		124,894
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	48,967		44,316
Depreciation and amortization	42,144		36,983
Impairments of real estate assets	415		0
General and administrative	10,556		9,735
Total operating expenses	102,082		91,034
Interest expense:
Contractual	22,798		23,851
Amortization of deferred financing costs	949		902
Financing obligations	121		(76)
Total interest expense	23,868		24,677
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,783		2,230
Losses on debt extinguishment	(164)		0
Total other income	1,619		2,230
Income from continuing operations before disposition of condominiums and equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	12,699		11,413
Gains on for-sale residential condominiums	0		65
Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	383		(160)
Income from continuing operations	13,082		11,318
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	94		1,882
Impairments of real estate assets held for sale	(713)		0
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	1,244		5,134
Total discontinued operations	625		7,016
Net income	13,707		18,334
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(203)		(184)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)
Net income available for common unitholders	12,877		17,523
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14		$ 0.14
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.09
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.23
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	84,345	[1],[2]	76,155	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.14		0.14
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.01		0.09
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.15		0.23
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	84,453	[2]	76,287	[2]
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	12,252		10,507
Total discontinued operations	625		7,016
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 12,877		$ 17,523

[1] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

[2] There were 0.5 million and 0.6 million options outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.