Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 403,556	$ 345,614
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,756,552	3,172,107
Development in process	56,495	21,198
Land held for development	112,079	115,416
Total real estate assets	4,328,682	3,654,335
Less-accumulated depreciation	(981,602)	(903,837)
Net real estate assets	3,347,080	2,750,498
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	16,316	129,400
Cash and cash equivalents	31,689	13,783
Restricted cash	15,246	19,702
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,532 and $2,848, respectively	30,839	23,073
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $340 and $182, respectively	26,291	25,472
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,177 and $813, respectively	123,047	111,233
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	35,856	66,800
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $90,241 and $75,863, respectively	227,826	166,009
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,835 and $12,318, respectively	42,675	44,458
Total Assets	3,896,865	3,350,428
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,050,061	1,859,162
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	208,536	172,146
Financing obligations	28,192	29,358
Total Liabilities	2,286,789	2,060,666
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	103,948	124,869
Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share; 29,077 shares issued and outstanding)	29,077	29,077
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 89,910,944 and 80,311,437 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	899	803
Additional paid-in capital	2,371,925	2,040,306
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(911,948)	(897,418)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,003)	(12,628)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,484,950	1,160,140
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	21,178	4,753
Total Equity	1,506,128	1,164,893
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	3,896,865	3,350,428
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	403,556	345,614
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,756,552	3,172,107
Development in process	56,495	21,198
Land held for development	112,079	115,416
Total real estate assets	4,328,682	3,654,335
Less-accumulated depreciation	(981,602)	(903,837)
Net real estate assets	3,347,080	2,750,498
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	16,316	129,400
Cash and cash equivalents	31,780	13,867
Restricted cash	15,246	19,702
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,532 and $2,848, respectively	30,839	23,073
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $340 and $182, respectively	26,291	25,472
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,177 and $813, respectively	123,047	111,233
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	34,838	65,813
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $90,241 and $75,863, respectively	227,826	166,009
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,835 and $12,318, respectively	42,628	44,458
Total Assets	3,895,891	3,349,525
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,050,061	1,859,162
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	208,467	172,026
Financing obligations	28,192	29,358
Total Liabilities	2,286,720	2,060,546
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,943,872 and 3,733,016 outstanding, respectively	103,948	124,869
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 29,077 units issued and outstanding	29,077	29,077
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	133,025	153,946
Equity:
General partner Common Units, 924,460 and 836,356 outstanding, respectively	14,598	11,427
Limited partner Common Units, 88,577,675 and 79,066,272 outstanding, respectively	1,445,373	1,131,481
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,003)	(12,628)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	21,178	4,753
Total Equity	1,476,146	1,135,033
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	$ 3,895,891	$ 3,349,525