Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Rental and other revenues	$ 482,852		$ 461,126		$ 448,018
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	176,148		163,638		162,025
Depreciation and amortization	143,019		135,414		129,652
Impairment of assets held for use	2,429		0		2,554
General and administrative	35,727		32,948		36,682
Total operating expenses	357,323		332,000		330,913
Interest expense:
Contractual	91,838		87,726		81,982
Amortization of deferred financing costs	3,312		3,385		2,760
Financing obligations	849		2,261		2,063
Total interest expense	95,999		93,372		86,805
Other income:
Interest and other income	7,387		6,360		8,262
Gain/(loss) on debt extinguishment	(24)		(705)		1,287
Total other income	7,363		5,655		9,549
Income from continuing operations before disposition of property, condominiums and investment in unconsolidated affiliates and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	36,893		41,409		39,849
Gains on disposition of property	764		74		266
Gains/(losses) on for-sale residential condominiums	(316)		276		922
Gains on disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliates	2,282		25,330		0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	4,878		3,821		5,421
Income from continuing operations	44,501		70,910		46,458
Discontinued operations:
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations	897		1,479		(6,230)
Net gains/(losses) on disposition of discontinued operations	2,573		(86)		21,466
Total discontinued operations	3,470		1,393		15,236
Net income	47,971		72,303		61,694
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,091)		(3,320)		(3,197)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(755)		(485)		(11)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(4,553)		(6,708)		(6,708)
Excess of Preferred Stock redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value	(1,895)		0		0
Net income available for common stockholders	38,677		61,790		51,778
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49		$ 0.84		$ 0.55
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05		$ 0.02		$ 0.21
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.54		$ 0.86		$ 0.76
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	72,281	[1],[2]	71,578	[1],[2]	67,971	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49		$ 0.84		$ 0.55
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05		$ 0.02		$ 0.21
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.54		$ 0.86		$ 0.76
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	76,189	[2]	75,578	[2]	72,079	[2]
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	35,380		60,467		37,400
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	3,297		1,323		14,378
Net income available for common stockholders	38,677		61,790		51,778
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	482,852		461,126		448,018
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	176,122		163,278		161,499
Depreciation and amortization	143,019		135,414		129,652
Impairment of assets held for use	2,429		0		2,554
General and administrative	35,753		33,308		37,208
Total operating expenses	357,323		332,000		330,913
Interest expense:
Contractual	91,838		87,726		81,982
Amortization of deferred financing costs	3,312		3,385		2,760
Financing obligations	849		2,261		2,063
Total interest expense	95,999		93,372		86,805
Other income:
Interest and other income	7,387		6,360		8,262
Gain/(loss) on debt extinguishment	(24)		(705)		1,287
Total other income	7,363		5,655		9,549
Income from continuing operations before disposition of property, condominiums and investment in unconsolidated affiliates and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	36,893		41,409		39,849
Gains on disposition of property	764		74		266
Gains/(losses) on for-sale residential condominiums	(316)		276		922
Gains on disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliates	2,282		25,330		0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	4,939		3,794		5,367
Income from continuing operations	44,562		70,883		46,404
Discontinued operations:
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations	897		1,479		(6,230)
Net gains/(losses) on disposition of discontinued operations	2,573		(86)		21,466
Total discontinued operations	3,470		1,393		15,236
Net income	48,032		72,276		61,640
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(755)		(485)		(11)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(4,553)		(6,708)		(6,708)
Excess of Preferred Unit redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value	(1,895)		0		0
Net income available for common unitholders	40,829		65,083		54,921
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49		$ 0.85		$ 0.56
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05		$ 0.02		$ 0.21
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.54		$ 0.87		$ 0.77
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	75,644		74,971		71,591
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49		$ 0.85		$ 0.56
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05		$ 0.02		$ 0.21
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.54		$ 0.87		$ 0.77
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	75,780		75,169		71,670
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	37,359		63,690		39,685
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	3,470		1,393		15,236
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 40,829		$ 65,083		$ 54,921

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

[2] There were 0.4 million, 0.7 million and 1.0 million options outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.