Earnings Per Share/Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 24,512		$ 15,487		$ 37,704		$ 26,787
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(742)		(640)		(1,128)		(1,112)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(438)		(187)		(861)		(390)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	22,705		14,033		34,461		24,031
Income from discontinued operations	0		14,092		384		16,552
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	0		(603)		(12)		(712)
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
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	90,254,000	[1],[2]	82,811,000	[1],[2]	90,111,000	[1],[2]	81,925,000	[1],[2]
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
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	24,512		15,487		37,704		26,787
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(438)		(187)		(861)		(390)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	23,447		14,673		35,589		25,143
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0		14,092		384		16,552
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	23,447		28,765		35,973		41,695
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	90,254,000	[1],[2]	82,811,000	[1],[2]	90,111,000	[1],[2]	81,925,000	[1],[2]
Stock options using the treasury method	121,000		132,000		123,000		120,000
Noncontrolling interests Common Units	2,937,000		3,688,000		2,938,000		3,707,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	93,312,000	[1],[2]	86,631,000	[1],[2]	93,172,000	[1],[2]	85,752,000	[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
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in shares)			300,000		200,000		300,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	24,512		15,490		37,704		26,737
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(438)		(187)		(861)		(390)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
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
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	92,782,000	[1],[3]	86,090,000	[1],[3]	92,640,000	[1],[3]	85,223,000	[1],[3]
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
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	24,512		15,490		37,704		26,737
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(438)		(187)		(861)		(390)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
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
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	92,782,000	[1],[3]	86,090,000	[1],[3]	92,640,000	[1],[3]	85,223,000	[1],[3]
Stock options using the treasury method	121,000		132,000		123,000		120,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	92,903,000	[1],[3]	86,222,000	[1],[3]	92,763,000	[1],[3]	85,343,000	[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
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in shares)			300,000		200,000		300,000

[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.