Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Rental and other revenues	$ 152,722		$ 132,618		$ 301,175		$ 262,995
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	55,275		47,317		111,665		93,911
Depreciation and amortization	50,443		40,624		98,608		80,712
Impairments of real estate assets	588		0		588		0
General and administrative	8,733		8,397		19,447		18,979
Total operating expenses	115,039		96,338		230,308		193,602
Interest expense:
Contractual	20,640		22,398		41,390		45,196
Amortization of deferred financing costs	799		948		1,451		1,897
Financing obligations	(226)		(60)		(266)		61
Total interest expense	21,213		23,286		42,575		47,154
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,410		1,617		2,809		3,400
Gains/(losses) on debt extinguishment	18		0		18		(164)
Total other income	1,428		1,617		2,827		3,236
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	17,898		14,611		31,119		25,475
Gains/(losses) on disposition of property	5,947		(37)		5,947		(37)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	667		913		638		1,349
Income from continuing operations	24,512		15,487		37,704		26,787
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0		1,995		0		4,339
Impairments of real estate assets	0		(1,066)		0		(2,194)
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0		13,163		384		14,407
Total discontinued operations	0		14,092		384		16,552
Net income	24,512		29,579		38,088		43,339
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(742)		(1,243)		(1,140)		(1,824)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(438)		(187)		(861)		(390)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
Net income available for common stockholders	22,705		27,522		34,833		39,871
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.17		$ 0.38		$ 0.30
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.16		$ 0.01		$ 0.19
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.33		$ 0.39		$ 0.49
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	90,254	[1],[2]	82,811	[1],[2]	90,111	[1],[2]	81,925	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.17		$ 0.38		$ 0.30
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.16		$ 0.01		$ 0.19
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.33		$ 0.39		$ 0.49
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	93,312	[1],[2]	86,631	[1],[2]	93,172	[1],[2]	85,752	[1],[2]
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425		$ 0.850		$ 0.850
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	22,705		14,033		34,461		24,031
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0		13,489		372		15,840
Net income available for common stockholders	22,705		27,522		34,833		39,871
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	152,722		132,618		301,175		262,995
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	55,258		47,295		111,632		93,915
Depreciation and amortization	50,443		40,624		98,608		80,712
Impairments of real estate assets	588		0		588		0
General and administrative	8,750		8,419		19,480		18,975
Total operating expenses	115,039		96,338		230,308		193,602
Interest expense:
Contractual	20,640		22,398		41,390		45,196
Amortization of deferred financing costs	799		948		1,451		1,897
Financing obligations	(226)		(60)		(266)		61
Total interest expense	21,213		23,286		42,575		47,154
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,410		1,617		2,809		3,400
Gains/(losses) on debt extinguishment	18		0		18		(164)
Total other income	1,428		1,617		2,827		3,236
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	17,898		14,611		31,119		25,475
Gains/(losses) on disposition of property	5,947		(37)		5,947		(37)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	667		916		638		1,299
Income from continuing operations	24,512		15,490		37,704		26,737
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0		1,995		0		4,339
Impairments of real estate assets	0		(1,066)		0		(2,194)
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0		13,163		384		14,407
Total discontinued operations	0		14,092		384		16,552
Net income	24,512		29,582		38,088		43,289
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(438)		(187)		(861)		(390)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
Net income available for common unitholders	23,447		28,768		35,973		41,645
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.17		$ 0.38		$ 0.30
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.16		$ 0.01		$ 0.19
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.33		$ 0.39		$ 0.49
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	92,782	[1],[3]	86,090	[1],[3]	92,640	[1],[3]	85,223	[1],[3]
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.17		$ 0.38		$ 0.30
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.16		$ 0.01		$ 0.19
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.33		$ 0.39		$ 0.49
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	92,903	[1],[3]	86,222	[1],[3]	92,763	[1],[3]	85,343	[1],[3]
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425		$ 0.850		$ 0.850
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	23,447		14,676		35,589		25,093
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0		14,092		384		16,552
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 23,447		$ 28,768		$ 35,973		$ 41,645

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

[2] There were 0.3 million options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 0.2 million and 0.3 million options outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.

[3] There were 0.3 million options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 0.2 million and 0.3 million options outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per unit because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.