Earnings Per Share/Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 17,026		$ 10,456		$ 45,405		$ 30,147
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(503)		(459)		(1,684)		(1,335)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(203)		(159)		(593)		(566)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,881)		(1,881)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	15,693		9,211		41,247		26,365
Income from discontinued operations	39,042		25,340		54,002		38,479
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	(1,386)		(1,194)		(2,029)		(1,831)
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
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	87,467,000	[1],[2]	76,590,000	[1],[2]	83,793,000	[1],[2]	74,703,000	[1],[2]
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
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	17,026		10,456		45,405		30,147
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(203)		(159)		(593)		(566)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,881)		(1,881)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	16,196		9,670		42,931		27,700
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	39,042		25,340		54,002		38,479
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	55,238		35,010		96,933		66,179
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	87,467,000	[1],[2]	76,590,000	[1],[2]	83,793,000	[1],[2]	74,703,000	[1],[2]
Stock options using the treasury method	101,000		137,000		114,000		127,000
Noncontrolling interests Common Units	3,201,000		3,768,000		3,536,000		3,738,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares) (1)	90,769,000	[1]	80,495,000	[1]	87,443,000	[1]	78,568,000	[1]
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
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)	300,000		500,000		300,000		500,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	17,025		10,460		45,354		30,156
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(203)		(159)		(593)		(566)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,881)		(1,881)
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
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	90,259,000	[2],[3]	79,949,000	[2],[3]	86,920,000	[2],[3]	78,032,000	[2],[3]
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
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	17,025		10,460		45,354		30,156
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(203)		(159)		(593)		(566)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,881)		(1,881)
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
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	90,259,000	[2],[3]	79,949,000	[2],[3]	86,920,000	[2],[3]	78,032,000	[2],[3]
Stock options using the treasury method	101,000		137,000		114,000		127,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	90,360,000	[3]	80,086,000	[3]	87,034,000	[3]	78,159,000	[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
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)	300,000		500,000		300,000		500,000

[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.