Investments In and Advances To Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member] property	Sep. 30, 2013 HIW-KC Orlando, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] HIW-KC Orlando, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Income Statements:
Rental and other revenues	$ 16,911,000		$ 25,051,000	$ 64,362,000		$ 75,920,000							$ 15,872,000		$ 24,062,000	$ 61,243,000		$ 72,916,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	8,733,000		11,624,000	31,681,000		35,706,000							8,126,000		11,024,000	29,821,000		33,901,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,010,000		6,355,000	17,383,000		18,839,000							4,699,000		6,044,000	16,449,000		17,905,000
Impairments of real estate assets	15,287,000		0	20,077,000		7,180,000	15,300,000		4,800,000				15,287,000		0	20,077,000		7,180,000
Interest expense	3,141,000		4,980,000	12,569,000		16,077,000							2,976,000		4,817,000	12,086,000		15,583,000
Total expenses	32,171,000		22,959,000	81,710,000		77,802,000							31,088,000		21,885,000	78,433,000		74,569,000
Income/(loss) before disposition of properties	(15,260,000)		2,092,000	(17,348,000)		(1,882,000)							(15,216,000)		2,177,000	(17,190,000)		(1,653,000)
Gains on disposition of properties	8,256,000		0	8,323,000		6,275,000		100,000		100,000			8,256,000		0	8,323,000		6,275,000
Net income/(loss)	(7,004,000)		2,092,000	(9,025,000)		4,393,000							(6,960,000)		2,177,000	(8,867,000)		4,622,000
Our share of:
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets	1,628,000		2,028,000	5,735,000		5,801,000							1,589,000		1,989,000	5,618,000		5,684,000
Impairments of real estate assets	3,487,000		0	4,507,000		1,002,000	3,500,000		1,000,000				3,487,000		0	4,507,000		1,002,000
Interest expense	1,099,000		1,775,000	4,583,000		5,598,000							1,079,000		1,754,000	4,523,000		5,536,000
Our share of gains recorded on disposition of property	0		0	431,000		0		100,000		400,000			0		0	431,000		0
Net income	(3,410,000)	[1]	914,000	(2,835,000)	[1]	1,252,000							(3,405,000)	[1]	925,000	(2,815,000)	[1]	1,281,000
Our share of net income	(3,410,000)	[1]	914,000	(2,835,000)	[1]	1,252,000							(3,405,000)	[1]	925,000	(2,815,000)	[1]	1,281,000
Adjustments for management and other fees	237,000		410,000	1,011,000		1,418,000							231,000		403,000	940,000		1,398,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,173,000)		1,324,000	(1,824,000)		2,670,000							(3,174,000)		1,328,000	(1,875,000)		2,679,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum (in hundredths)	50.00%			50.00%
Percentage of equity interest acquired in unconsolidated affiliate (in hundredths)												60.00%							60.00%
Number of office properties sold											2
Proceeds received from disposition of property								5,900,000		10,100,000
Closing credits for free rent								$ 100,000		$ 300,000

[1] (1)For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, as a result of acquiring our joint venture partner's 60.0% interest in the third quarter of 2013, we consolidated a joint venture previously accounted for under the equity method of accounting.