Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 13,135		$ 11,316
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(553)		(483)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(203)		(184)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	11,752		10,022
Income from discontinued operations	625		7,016
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	(28)		(344)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	597		6,672
Net income available for common stockholders	12,349		16,694
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	81,029,000	[1],[2]	72,836,000	[1],[2]
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
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	13,135		11,316
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(203)		(184)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	12,305		10,505
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	625		7,016
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	12,930		17,521
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	81,029,000	[1],[2]	72,836,000	[1],[2]
Stock options using the treasury method	108,000		132,000
Noncontrolling interests Common Units	3,725,000		3,728,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares) (1)	84,862,000	[2]	76,696,000	[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
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)	500,000		600,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	13,082		11,318
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(203)		(184)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	12,252		10,507
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	625		7,016
Net income available for common unitholders	12,877		17,523
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	84,345,000	[1],[2]	76,155,000	[1],[2]
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
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	13,082		11,318
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(203)		(184)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	12,252		10,507
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	625		7,016
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 12,877		$ 17,523
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	84,345,000	[1],[2]	76,155,000	[1],[2]
Stock options using the treasury method	108,000		132,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	84,453,000	[2]	76,287,000	[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
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)	500,000		600,000

[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.