Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 1,532	$ 2,848
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	340	182
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	1,177	813
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	90,241	75,863
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	12,835	12,318
Equity:
Series A Preferred Stock, dividend rate percentage (in hundredths)	8.625%	8.625%
Series A Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series A Preferred Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
Series A Preferred Stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Stock, shares issued (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Series A Preferred Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued (in shares)	89,910,944	80,311,437
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	89,910,944	80,311,437
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	1,532	2,848
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	340	182
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	1,177	813
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	90,241	75,863
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	$ 12,835	$ 12,318
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units: [Abstract]
Redeemable Common Units outstanding (in shares)	2,943,872	3,733,016
Series A Preferred Units, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Series A Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Common Units: [Abstract]
General partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	924,460	836,356
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	88,577,675	79,066,272