Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Rental and other revenues	$ 147,294		$ 123,418		$ 415,961		$ 368,029
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	55,365		45,904		151,802		134,102
Depreciation and amortization	48,124		37,041		130,390		110,656
General and administrative	8,969		9,725		27,948		28,298
Total operating expenses	112,458		92,670		310,140		273,056
Interest expense:
Contractual	22,683		22,910		67,879		70,309
Amortization of deferred financing costs	963		907		2,860		2,709
Financing obligations	26		(205)		87		(357)
Total interest expense	23,672		23,612		70,826		72,661
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,582		1,916		4,982		5,883
Losses on debt extinguishment	(32)		0		(196)		(973)
Total other income	1,550		1,916		4,786		4,910
Income from continuing operations before disposition of property and condominiums and acquisition of controlling interest in and equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	12,714		9,052		39,781		27,222
Gains/(losses) on disposition of property	34		0		(3)		0
Gains on for-sale residential condominiums	0		80		0		255
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in unconsolidated affiliate	7,451		0		7,451		0
Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,173)		1,324		(1,824)		2,670
Income from continuing operations	17,026		10,456		45,405		30,147
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	1,096		2,404		3,843		9,024
Impairments of real estate assets	0		0		(2,194)		0
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	37,946		22,936		52,353		29,455
Total discontinued operations	39,042		25,340		54,002		38,479
Net income	56,068		35,796		99,407		68,626
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,889)		(1,653)		(3,713)		(3,166)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(203)		(159)		(593)		(566)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,881)		(1,881)
Net income available for common stockholders	53,349		33,357		93,220		63,013
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.12		$ 0.49		$ 0.35
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43		$ 0.32		$ 0.62		$ 0.49
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61		$ 0.44		$ 1.11		$ 0.84
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	87,467	[1],[2]	76,590	[1],[2]	83,793	[1],[2]	74,703	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.12		$ 0.49		$ 0.35
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43		$ 0.31		$ 0.62		$ 0.49
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61		$ 0.43		$ 1.11		$ 0.84
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	90,769	[1]	80,495	[1]	87,443	[1]	78,568	[1]
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425		$ 1.275		$ 1.275
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	15,693		9,211		41,247		26,365
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	37,656		24,146		51,973		36,648
Net income available for common stockholders	53,349		33,357		93,220		63,013
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	147,294		123,418		415,961		368,029
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	55,343		45,830		151,784		133,907
Depreciation and amortization	48,124		37,041		130,390		110,656
General and administrative	8,991		9,799		27,966		28,493
Total operating expenses	112,458		92,670		310,140		273,056
Interest expense:
Contractual	22,683		22,910		67,879		70,309
Amortization of deferred financing costs	963		907		2,860		2,709
Financing obligations	26		(205)		87		(357)
Total interest expense	23,672		23,612		70,826		72,661
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,582		1,916		4,982		5,883
Losses on debt extinguishment	(32)		0		(196)		(973)
Total other income	1,550		1,916		4,786		4,910
Income from continuing operations before disposition of property and condominiums and acquisition of controlling interest in and equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	12,714		9,052		39,781		27,222
Gains/(losses) on disposition of property	34		0		(3)		0
Gains on for-sale residential condominiums	0		80		0		255
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in unconsolidated affiliate	7,451		0		7,451		0
Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,174)		1,328		(1,875)		2,679
Income from continuing operations	17,025		10,460		45,354		30,156
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	1,096		2,404		3,843		9,024
Impairments of real estate assets	0		0		(2,194)		0
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	37,946		22,936		52,353		29,455
Total discontinued operations	39,042		25,340		54,002		38,479
Net income	56,067		35,800		99,356		68,635
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(203)		(159)		(593)		(566)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,881)		(1,881)
Net income available for common unitholders	55,237		35,014		96,882		66,188
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.12		$ 0.49		$ 0.36
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43		$ 0.32		$ 0.62		$ 0.49
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61		$ 0.44		$ 1.11		$ 0.85
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	90,259	[2],[3]	79,949	[2],[3]	86,920	[2],[3]	78,032	[2],[3]
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.12		$ 0.49		$ 0.36
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43		$ 0.32		$ 0.62		$ 0.49
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61		$ 0.44		$ 1.11		$ 0.85
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	90,360	[3]	80,086	[3]	87,034	[3]	78,159	[3]
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425		$ 1.275		$ 1.275
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	16,195		9,674		42,880		27,709
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	39,042		25,340		54,002		38,479
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 55,237		$ 35,014		$ 96,882		$ 66,188

[1] There were 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the nine months ended September 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.

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

[3] There were 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the nine months ended September 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.