Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 986,859	$ 956,674	$ 726	$ 29,077	$ 9,575	$ 948,187	$ 1,803,997	$ (5,734)	$ (5,734)	$ 4,646	$ 4,646	$ (845,853)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			72,647,697
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of tax withholdings		188,973			1,890	187,083			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(99,334)			(994)	(98,340)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,881)			(19)	(1,862)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			5,701,974
Issuances of Common Stock, net of tax withholdings	186,674		57	0			186,617	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			21,366
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	731		0	0			731	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(95,122)		0	0			0	0		0		(95,122)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,881)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,881)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(12,485)		0	0			(12,485)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(663)	(663)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(663)	(663)	0
Issuances of restricted stock -shares			158,885
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	6,464	6,464	2	0	65	6,399	6,462	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(12,814)			(128)	(12,686)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,166)		0	0			0	0		0		(3,166)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(6)	(560)	0	0	0	566	566	(566)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	68,626	68,635	0	0	686	67,949	0	0	0	0	0	68,626
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(7,692)	(7,692)	0	0	0	0	0	(7,692)	(7,692)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	60,934	60,943
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	1,128,345	1,098,362	785	29,077	11,069	1,096,170	1,985,322	(13,426)	(13,426)	4,549	4,549	(877,962)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012			78,529,922
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,653)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	35,796	35,800
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(2,647)	(2,647)
Total comprehensive income	33,149	33,153
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	1,128,345	1,098,362
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,164,893	1,135,033	803	29,077	11,427	1,131,481	2,040,306	(12,628)	(12,628)	4,753	4,753	(897,418)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	80,311,437		80,311,437
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of tax withholdings		305,601			3,056	302,545			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(111,645)			(1,117)	(110,528)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,881)			(19)	(1,862)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			8,660,546
Issuances of Common Stock, net of tax withholdings	305,601		87	0			305,514	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			789,144
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	28,788		0	0			28,788	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(107,750)		0	0			0	0		0		(107,750)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,881)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,881)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(8,570)		0	0			(8,570)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(408)	(408)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(408)	(408)	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	16,240	16,240	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16,240	16,240	0
Issuances of restricted stock -shares			151,630
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - Shares			(1,813)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	5,896	5,896	9	0	59	5,837	5,887	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		20,329			204	20,125			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,713)		0	0			0	0		0		(3,713)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(6)	(587)	0	0	0	593	593	(593)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	99,407	99,356	0	0	994	98,362	0	0	0	0	0	99,407
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	7,625	7,625	0	0	0	0	0	7,625	7,625	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	107,032	106,981
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	1,506,128	1,476,146	899	29,077	14,598	1,445,373	2,371,925	(5,003)	(5,003)	21,178	21,178	(911,948)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013	89,910,944		89,910,944
Balance at Jun. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,889)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	56,068	56,067
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(861)	(861)
Total comprehensive income	55,207	55,206
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 1,506,128	$ 1,476,146
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013	89,910,944