Earnings Per Share/Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 16,232		$ 10,963		$ 29,400		$ 21,902
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(672)		(517)		(1,227)		(982)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(187)		(223)		(390)		(407)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	14,746		9,596		26,529		19,259
Income from discontinued operations	13,347		3,535		13,939		10,928
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	(571)		(169)		(597)		(531)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	12,776		3,366		13,342		10,397
Net income available for common stockholders	27,522		12,962		39,871		29,656
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	82,811,000	[1],[2]	74,662,000	[1],[2]	81,925,000	[1],[2]	73,749,000	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.13		$ 0.33		$ 0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.04		$ 0.16		$ 0.14
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33		$ 0.17		$ 0.49		$ 0.40
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	16,232		10,963		29,400		21,902
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(187)		(223)		(390)		(407)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	15,418		10,113		27,756		20,241
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	13,347		3,535		13,939		10,928
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	28,765		13,648		41,695		31,169
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	82,811,000	[1],[2]	74,662,000	[1],[2]	81,925,000	[1],[2]	73,749,000	[1],[2]
Stock options using the treasury method	132,000		141,000		120,000		129,000
Noncontrolling interests Common Units	3,688,000		3,718,000		3,707,000		3,723,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares) (1)	86,631,000	[2]	78,521,000	[2]	85,752,000	[2]	77,601,000	[2]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.13		$ 0.33		$ 0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.04		$ 0.16		$ 0.14
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33		$ 0.17		$ 0.49		$ 0.40
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)	300,000		500,000		300,000		500,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	16,235		10,966		29,350		21,907
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(187)		(223)		(390)		(407)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	15,421		10,116		27,706		20,246
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	13,347		3,535		13,939		10,928
Net income available for common unitholders	28,768		13,651		41,645		31,174
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	86,090,000	[1],[2],[3]	77,971,000	[1],[3]	85,223,000	[1],[3]	77,063,000	[1],[3]
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.13		$ 0.33		$ 0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.05		$ 0.16		$ 0.14
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33		$ 0.18		$ 0.49		$ 0.40
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	16,235		10,966		29,350		21,907
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(187)		(223)		(390)		(407)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	15,421		10,116		27,706		20,246
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	13,347		3,535		13,939		10,928
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 28,768		$ 13,651		$ 41,645		$ 31,174
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	86,090,000	[1],[2],[3]	77,971,000	[1],[3]	85,223,000	[1],[3]	77,063,000	[1],[3]
Stock options using the treasury method	132,000		141,000		120,000		129,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	86,222,000	[3]	78,112,000	[2],[3]	85,343,000	[3]	77,192,000	[3]
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.18		0.13		0.33		0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.15		0.04		0.16		0.14
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.33		0.17		0.49		0.40
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)	300,000		500,000		300,000		500,000

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

[2] There were 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 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.

[3] There were 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per unit because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.