Document and Entity Information Document (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 26, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000921082
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		73,924,965
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 2,368,577,270