Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 26,409	[1]	$ 24,725	[1]
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,753		3,354
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	14,330		14,496
Total Assets	44,492		42,575
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	2,136,107	[1]	1,987,364	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,047		9,369
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,753		3,354
Contingent consideration to acquire real estate assets (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	191		563
Financing obligations, at fair value	24,211	[1]	23,252	[1]
Total Liabilities	2,166,309		2,023,902
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,753		3,354
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Total Assets	3,753		3,354
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,753		3,354
Contingent consideration to acquire real estate assets (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	0		0
Total Liabilities	3,753		3,354
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	17,169		16,077
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Total Assets	17,169		16,077
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	2,136,107		1,987,364
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,047		9,369
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Contingent consideration to acquire real estate assets (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	0		0
Total Liabilities	2,138,154		1,996,733
Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	9,240		8,648
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	14,330		14,496
Total Assets	23,570		23,144
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Contingent consideration to acquire real estate assets (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	191		563
Financing obligations, at fair value	24,211		23,252
Total Liabilities	24,402		23,815
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	103,948		124,869
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	103,948		124,869
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	0		0
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0		$ 0

[1] Amounts recorded at historical cost on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.