-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UtDlnV9NiQVXAb14V2xR+tGGoHJVHkjt6tEEYKNK6kbUT6Q+K7LUCqYEYNBafmeH
 lVgX+RAOeddVzg8EbgFyiw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-09-000229.txt : 20090102
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-09-000229.hdr.sgml : 20090101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090102204725
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-09-000229
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090102
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BEALE MICHAEL F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001249391

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13100
		FILM NUMBER:		09502317

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES
		STREET 2:		3100 SMOKETREE CT #600
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9198724924

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000921082
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				561871668
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3100 SMOKETREE CT
		STREET 2:		STE 600
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9198724924

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3100 SMOKETREE COURT
		STREET 2:		STE 600
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27604
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921082</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HIW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249391</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEALE MICHAEL F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3100 SMOKETREE COURT, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RALEIGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27604</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2008-12-31</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17.18</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.17</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>17.18</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>873.06</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Security converts to cash price of common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to required payout under the Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">There is no expiration date to payout election.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Willis B. Howard Attorney-in-fact for Michael F. Beale</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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