Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 407,180	$ 384,301
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,991,536	3,807,315
Development in process	104,693	205,971
Land held for development	76,955	79,355
Total real estate assets	4,580,364	4,476,942
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,066,945)	(1,024,936)
Net real estate assets	3,513,419	3,452,006
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	10,631	1,038
Cash and cash equivalents	4,939	8,832
Restricted cash	15,703	14,595
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,487 and $1,314, respectively	27,027	48,557
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $410 and $275, respectively	5,935	13,116
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,022 and $600, respectively	151,028	142,037
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	43,979	50,685
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $119,396 and $112,804, respectively	223,380	228,768
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $15,242 and $14,259, respectively	43,601	39,489
Total Assets	4,039,642	3,999,123
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,124,028	2,071,389
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	214,131	237,633
Financing obligation	8,962	8,962
Total Liabilities	$ 2,347,121	$ 2,317,984
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 116,260	$ 130,048
Equity/Capital:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share), 29,050 and 29,060 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	29,050	29,060
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 94,118,006 and 92,907,310 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	941	929
Additional paid-in capital	2,525,227	2,464,275
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(992,425)	(957,370)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,514)	(3,912)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,558,279	1,532,982
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,982	18,109
Total Equity/Capital	1,576,261	1,551,091
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,039,642	3,999,123
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	407,180	384,301
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,991,536	3,807,315
Development in process	104,693	205,971
Land held for development	76,955	79,355
Total real estate assets	4,580,364	4,476,942
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,066,945)	(1,024,936)
Net real estate assets	3,513,419	3,452,006
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	10,631	1,038
Cash and cash equivalents	4,939	8,938
Restricted cash	15,703	14,595
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,487 and $1,314, respectively	27,027	48,557
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $410 and $275, respectively	5,935	13,116
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,022 and $600, respectively	151,028	142,037
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	43,979	50,685
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $119,396 and $112,804, respectively	223,380	228,768
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $15,242 and $14,259, respectively	43,601	39,489
Total Assets	4,039,642	3,999,229
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,124,028	2,071,389
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	214,131	237,547
Financing obligation	8,962	8,962
Total Liabilities	$ 2,347,121	$ 2,317,898
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,910,135 and 2,936,955 outstanding, respectively	$ 116,260	$ 130,048
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 29,050 and 29,060 units issued and outstanding, respectively	29,050	29,060
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	145,310	159,108
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 966,193 and 954,355 outstanding, respectively	15,335	15,078
Limited partner Common Units, 92,743,004 and 91,544,146 outstanding, respectively	1,518,408	1,492,948
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,514)	(3,912)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,982	18,109
Total Equity/Capital	1,547,211	1,522,223
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,039,642	$ 3,999,229