Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 31,617	$ 54,299	$ 79,343	$ 92,003
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations		(918)	(1,673)	(2,296)	(2,801)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(324)	(291)	(948)	(1,152)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(626)	(627)	(1,879)	(1,881)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders		29,749	51,708	74,220	86,169
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		$ 29,749	$ 51,708	$ 74,220	$ 86,541
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)		94,693	90,668	93,996	90,299
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.31	$ 0.57	$ 0.79	$ 0.96
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.31	$ 0.57	$ 0.79	$ 0.96
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 31,617	$ 54,299	$ 79,343	$ 92,003
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(324)	(291)	(948)	(1,152)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(626)	(627)	(1,879)	(1,881)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		30,667	53,381	76,516	88,970
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		$ 30,667	$ 53,381	$ 76,516	$ 89,354
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)		94,693	90,668	93,996	90,299
Stock options using the treasury method		58	118	89	121
Noncontrolling interests Common Units		2,910	2,937	2,918	2,938
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	[1],[2]	97,661	93,723	97,003	93,358
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.31	$ 0.57	$ 0.79	$ 0.96
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.31	$ 0.57	$ 0.79	$ 0.96
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)		200	0	200	0
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 31,617	$ 54,299	$ 79,343	$ 92,003
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(324)	(291)	(948)	(1,152)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(626)	(627)	(1,879)	(1,881)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		30,667	53,381	76,516	88,970
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	0	0	384
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 30,667	$ 53,381	$ 76,516	$ 89,354
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)		97,194	93,196	96,505	92,828
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.57	$ 0.79	$ 0.96
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.57	$ 0.79	$ 0.96
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 31,617	$ 54,299	$ 79,343	$ 92,003
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(324)	(291)	(948)	(1,152)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(626)	(627)	(1,879)	(1,881)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		30,667	53,381	76,516	88,970
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	0	0	384
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 30,667	$ 53,381	$ 76,516	$ 89,354
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)		97,194	93,196	96,505	92,828
Stock options using the treasury method		58	118	89	121
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	[3],[4]	97,252	93,314	96,594	92,949
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.57	$ 0.79	$ 0.96
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.57	$ 0.79	$ 0.96
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)		200	0	200	0

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

[2] There were 0.2 million options outstanding during both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 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 both the three and nine months ended September 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 both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 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 both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.