Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 382,575	$ 393,602
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,724,554	3,748,869
Development in process	114,790	44,621
Land held for development	104,873	110,374
Total real estate assets	4,326,792	4,297,466
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,011,477)	(985,244)
Net real estate assets	3,315,315	3,312,222
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	68,159	0
Cash and cash equivalents	18,699	10,184
Restricted cash	10,602	14,169
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,390 and $1,648, respectively	27,972	26,430
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $275 and $302, respectively	10,140	26,409
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $798 and $1,063, respectively	132,051	126,014
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	30,387	29,901
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $102,430 and $92,220, respectively	218,022	222,211
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $13,466 and $12,905, respectively	45,453	39,561
Total Assets	3,876,800	3,807,101
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,058,972	1,956,299
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	219,296	218,962
Financing obligations	24,672	26,664
Total Liabilities	2,302,940	2,201,925
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	123,205	106,480
Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share; 29,077 shares issued and outstanding)	29,077	29,077
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 90,361,707 and 89,920,915 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	904	899
Additional paid-in capital	2,366,281	2,370,368
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(962,205)	(920,433)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,719)	(2,611)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,429,338	1,477,300
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	21,317	21,396
Total Equity	1,450,655	1,498,696
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	3,876,800	3,807,101
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	382,575	393,602
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,724,554	3,748,869
Development in process	114,790	44,621
Land held for development	104,873	110,374
Total real estate assets	4,326,792	4,297,466
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,011,477)	(985,244)
Net real estate assets	3,315,315	3,312,222
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	68,159	0
Cash and cash equivalents	18,793	10,281
Restricted cash	10,602	14,169
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,390 and $1,648, respectively	27,972	26,430
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $275 and $302, respectively	10,140	26,409
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $798 and $1,063, respectively	132,051	126,014
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	30,387	29,901
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $102,430 and $92,220, respectively	218,022	222,211
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $13,466 and $12,905, respectively	45,383	39,561
Total Assets	3,876,824	3,807,198
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,058,972	1,956,299
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	219,250	218,887
Financing obligations	24,672	26,664
Total Liabilities	2,302,894	2,201,850
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,936,955 and 2,943,872 outstanding, respectively	123,205	106,480
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 29,077 units issued and outstanding	29,077	29,077
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	152,282	135,557
Equity:
General partner Common Units, 928,899 and 924,560 outstanding, respectively	14,048	14,508
Limited partner Common Units, 89,024,000 and 88,587,546 outstanding, respectively	1,391,002	1,436,498
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,719)	(2,611)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	21,317	21,396
Total Equity	1,421,648	1,469,791
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	$ 3,876,824	$ 3,807,198