Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 13,760	$ 18,332
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	42,292	38,515
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(136)	69
Share-based compensation expense	3,440	2,422
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	426	579
Amortization of deferred financing costs	949	902
Amortization of cash flow hedges	788	(33)
Impairments of real estate assets	415	0
Impairments of real estate assets held for sale	713	0
Losses on debt extinguishment	164	0
Net gains on disposition of property	(1,244)	(5,134)
Gains on for-sale residential condominiums	0	(65)
Equity in (earnings)/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(436)	162
Changes in financing obligations	(105)	(334)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,145	1,388
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(1,479)	2,470
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(2,533)	(4,497)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(5,788)	(5,382)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(10,252)	(27,344)
Net cash provided by operating activities	42,119	22,050
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	(88,332)	0
Investments in development in process	(4,978)	0
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(18,004)	(22,671)
Investments in building improvements	(13,107)	(8,483)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	14,971	10,941
Net proceeds from disposition of for-sale residential condominiums	0	1,008
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	363	901
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	0	1,481
Investments in and advances/repayments to/from unconsolidated affiliates	(429)	(1,197)
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	10,262	5,124
Net cash used in investing activities	(99,254)	(12,896)
Financing activities:
Dividends on Common Stock	(34,259)	(30,961)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)	(627)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,584)	(1,584)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(265)	(291)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock	59,019	28,392
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Stock	(701)	0
Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings	(2,514)	(1,748)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	135,900	61,000
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(61,400)	(282,000)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	0	225,000
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(37,214)	(3,067)
Additions to deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(833)	(2,241)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities	55,522	(8,127)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1,613)	1,027
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	13,783	11,188
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	12,170	12,215
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	21,887	25,970
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	280	1,104
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	351	63
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	5,158	975
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	6,467	15,841
Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing and leasing costs	4,872	3,320
Unrealized gains on marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan	283	334
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	23,802	14,366
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond	390	287
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Operating activities:
Net income	13,707	18,334
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	42,292	38,515
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(136)	69
Share-based compensation expense	3,440	2,422
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	426	579
Amortization of deferred financing costs	949	902
Amortization of cash flow hedges	788	(33)
Impairments of real estate assets	415	0
Impairments of real estate assets held for sale	713	0
Losses on debt extinguishment	164	0
Net gains on disposition of property	(1,244)	(5,134)
Gains on for-sale residential condominiums	0	(65)
Equity in (earnings)/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(383)	160
Changes in financing obligations	(105)	(334)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,139	1,381
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(1,479)	2,470
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(2,391)	(4,449)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(5,788)	(5,382)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(10,155)	(27,344)
Net cash provided by operating activities	42,352	22,091
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	(88,332)	0
Investments in development in process	(4,978)	0
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(18,004)	(22,671)
Investments in building improvements	(13,107)	(8,483)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	14,971	10,941
Net proceeds from disposition of for-sale residential condominiums	0	1,008
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	363	901
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	0	1,481
Investments in and advances/repayments to/from unconsolidated affiliates	(429)	(1,197)
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	10,262	5,124
Net cash used in investing activities	(99,254)	(12,896)
Financing activities:
Distributions on Common Units	(35,669)	(32,371)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)	(627)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(265)	(291)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Units	59,019	25,141
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Units	(701)	0
Repurchase of units related to tax withholdings	(2,514)	(1,748)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	135,900	61,000
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(61,400)	(282,000)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	0	225,000
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(37,214)	(3,067)
Additions to deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(1,240)	(2,331)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities	55,289	(11,294)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1,613)	(2,099)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	13,867	11,151
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	12,254	9,052
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	21,887	25,970
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	280	1,104
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	5,158	975
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	6,467	15,841
Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing and leasing costs	4,872	3,320
Unrealized gains on marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan	283	334
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value	22,448	13,546
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond	$ 390	$ 287