Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 1,088,222	$ 1,005,466	$ 717	$ 29,092	$ 52,500	$ 10,044	$ 994,610	$ 1,766,886	$ (3,648)	$ (3,648)	$ 4,460	$ 4,460	$ (761,785)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			71,690,487
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		8,391				84	8,307			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(31,847)				(318)	(31,529)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,677)				(17)	(1,660)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			307,060
Issuances of Common Stock, net	8,391		3	0	0			8,388	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			5,641
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	186		0	0	0			186	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(30,411)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(30,411)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,677)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(1,677)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(13,081)		0	0	0			(13,081)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(221)	(221)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(221)	(221)	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			127,026
Issuances of restricted stock, net	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense	2,026	2,026	1	0	0	20	2,006	2,025	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(12,122)				(122)	(12,000)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(507)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(507)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(1)	(122)	0	0	0	123	123	(123)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	12,443	12,451	0	0	0	125	12,326	0	0	0	0	0	12,443
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(164)	(164)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(164)	(164)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	12,279	12,287
Balance at Mar. 31, 2011	1,065,207	982,303	721	29,092	52,500	9,815	971,938	1,764,404	(3,812)	(3,812)	4,362	4,362	(782,060)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2011			72,130,214
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	986,859	956,674	726	29,077		9,575	948,187	1,803,997	(5,734)	(5,734)	4,646	4,646	(845,853)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	72,647,697		72,647,697
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		26,644				266	26,378			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(32,371)				(323)	(32,048)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(627)				(6)	(621)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			807,483
Issuances of Common Stock, net	26,644		8	0				26,636	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			2,000
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	63		0	0				63	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(30,961)		0	0				0	0		0		(30,961)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		0	0				0	0		0		(627)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(14,366)		0	0				(14,366)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(291)	(291)	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	(291)	(291)	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			151,391
Issuances of restricted stock, net	0		0	0				0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense	2,422	2,422	2	0		24	2,398	2,420	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(13,636)				(137)	(13,499)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(827)		0	0				0	0		0		(827)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0		(2)	(182)	0	0	0	184	184	(184)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	18,332	18,334	0	0		183	18,151	0	0	0	0	0	18,332
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	1,358	1,358	0	0		0	0	0	1,358	1,358	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	19,690	19,692
Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 988,606	$ 958,507	$ 736	$ 29,077		$ 9,580	$ 948,764	$ 1,818,750	$ (4,376)	$ (4,376)	$ 4,539	$ 4,539	$ (860,120)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2012	73,608,571		73,608,571