Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 26,891	$ 24,512	$ 47,726	$ 37,704
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations		(782)	(742)	(1,378)	(1,128)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(328)	(438)	(624)	(861)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(626)	(627)	(1,253)	(1,254)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders		25,155	22,705	44,471	34,461
Income from discontinued operations		0	0	0	384
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations		0	0	0	(12)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders		0	0	0	372
Net income available for common stockholders		$ 25,155	$ 22,705	$ 44,471	$ 34,833
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)		94,055,000	90,254,000	93,641,000	90,111,000
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.47	$ 0.38
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.47	$ 0.39
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 26,891	$ 24,512	$ 47,726	$ 37,704
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(328)	(438)	(624)	(861)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(626)	(627)	(1,253)	(1,254)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		25,937	23,447	45,849	35,589
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders		0	0	0	384
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		$ 25,937	$ 23,447	$ 45,849	$ 35,973
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)		94,055,000	90,254,000	93,641,000	90,111,000
Stock options using the treasury method		84,000	121,000	104,000	123,000
Noncontrolling interests Common Units		2,910,000	2,937,000	2,921,000	2,938,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	[1],[2]	97,049,000	93,312,000	96,666,000	93,172,000
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.47	$ 0.38
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.47	$ 0.39
Earnings Per Share and Per Unit, Basic and Diluted, Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in shares)		222,000.000		197,000.000	166,000.000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 26,891	$ 24,512	$ 47,726	$ 37,704
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(328)	(438)	(624)	(861)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(626)	(627)	(1,253)	(1,254)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		25,937	23,447	45,849	35,589
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	0	0	384
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 25,937	$ 23,447	$ 45,849	$ 35,973
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)		96,556,000	92,782,000	96,153,000	92,640,000
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.48	$ 0.38
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.48	$ 0.39
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 26,891	$ 24,512	$ 47,726	$ 37,704
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(328)	(438)	(624)	(861)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(626)	(627)	(1,253)	(1,254)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		25,937	23,447	45,849	35,589
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	0	0	384
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 25,937	$ 23,447	$ 45,849	$ 35,973
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)		96,556,000	92,782,000	96,153,000	92,640,000
Stock options using the treasury method		84,000	121,000	104,000	123,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	[3],[4]	96,640,000	92,903,000	96,257,000	92,763,000
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.48	$ 0.38
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.48	$ 0.39
Earnings Per Share and Per Unit, Basic and Diluted, Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in shares)		222,000.000		197,000.000	166,000.000

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

[2] There were 0.2 million options outstanding during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and the six months ended June 30, 2014 that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive. There were no such options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2014.

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

[4] There were 0.2 million options outstanding during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and the six months ended June 30, 2014 that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per unit because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive. There were no such options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2014.