Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 14,163	[1]	$ 13,142	[1]
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,504		3,635
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	12,640		12,447
Total Assets	30,307		29,224
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	2,173,153	[1]	2,141,334	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	4,480		2,412
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,504		3,635
Financing obligations, at fair value	20,264	[1]	20,117	[1]
Total Liabilities	2,201,401		2,167,498
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0	[1]	0	[1]
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,504		3,635
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Total Assets	3,504		3,635
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0	[1]	0	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,504		3,635
Financing obligations, at fair value	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total Liabilities	3,504		3,635
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	2,206	[1]	2,247	[1]
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Total Assets	2,206		2,247
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	2,173,153	[1]	2,141,334	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	4,480		2,412
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total Liabilities	2,177,633		2,143,746
Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	11,957	[1]	10,895	[1]
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	12,640		12,447
Total Assets	24,597		23,342
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0	[1]	0	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	20,264	[1]	20,117	[1]
Total Liabilities	20,264		20,117
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	133,226		130,048
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	133,226		130,048
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	0		0
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0		$ 0

[1] Amounts recorded at historical cost on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.