Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 18,332	$ 12,443
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	38,515	33,812
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	69	499
Share-based compensation expense	2,422	2,026
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	579	298
Amortization of deferred financing costs	902	821
Amortization of settled cash flow hedges	(33)	(29)
Net gains on disposition of property	(5,134)	0
Gains on for-sale residential condominiums	(65)	(38)
Equity in (earnings)/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	162	(1,467)
Changes in financing obligations	(334)	(74)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,388	1,137
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	2,470	(993)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(4,497)	(1,446)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(5,382)	(3,214)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(27,344)	(15,291)
Net cash provided by operating activities	22,050	28,484
Investing activities:
Investment in development in process	0	(1,479)
Investment in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(22,671)	(12,912)
Investment in building improvements	(8,483)	(2,444)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	10,941	0
Net proceeds from disposition of for-sale residential condominiums	1,008	510
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	901	408
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	1,481	133
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(1,197)	(422)
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	5,124	1,966
Net cash used in investing activities	(12,896)	(14,240)
Financing activities:
Dividends on Common Stock	(30,961)	(30,411)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)	(1,677)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,584)	(1,610)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(291)	(221)
Net proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock	28,392	8,391
Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings	(1,748)	0
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	61,000	5,000
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(282,000)	(35,000)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	225,000	200,000
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(3,067)	(140,491)
Additions to deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(2,241)	(1,621)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities	(8,127)	2,360
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,027	16,604
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	11,188	14,206
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	12,215	30,810
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	25,970	23,602
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	1,104	0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	63	186
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	975	2,641
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	15,841	9,912
Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing and leasing costs	3,320	4,023
Unrealized gains on marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan	334	177
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	14,366	13,081
Unrealized gain/(loss) on tax increment financing bond	287	(135)
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Operating activities:
Net income	18,334	12,451
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	38,515	33,812
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	69	499
Share-based compensation expense	2,422	2,026
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	579	298
Amortization of deferred financing costs	902	821
Amortization of settled cash flow hedges	(33)	(29)
Net gains on disposition of property	(5,134)	0
Gains on for-sale residential condominiums	(65)	(38)
Equity in (earnings)/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	160	(1,475)
Changes in financing obligations	(334)	(74)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,381	1,132
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	2,470	(993)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(4,449)	(1,295)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(5,382)	(3,214)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(27,344)	(15,291)
Net cash provided by operating activities	22,091	28,630
Investing activities:
Investment in development in process	0	(1,479)
Investment in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(22,671)	(12,912)
Investment in building improvements	(8,483)	(2,444)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	10,941	0
Net proceeds from disposition of for-sale residential condominiums	1,008	510
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	901	408
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	1,481	133
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(1,197)	(422)
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	5,124	1,966
Net cash used in investing activities	(12,896)	(14,240)
Financing activities:
Distributions on Common Units	(32,371)	(31,847)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)	(1,677)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(291)	(221)
Net proceeds from the issuance of Common Units	25,141	8,391
Repurchase of units related to tax withholdings	(1,748)	0
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	61,000	5,000
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(282,000)	(35,000)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	225,000	200,000
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(3,067)	(140,491)
Additions to deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(2,331)	(1,951)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities	(11,294)	2,204
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,099)	16,594
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	11,151	14,198
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	9,052	30,792
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	25,970	23,602
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	1,104	0
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	975	2,641
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	15,841	9,912
Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing and leasing costs	3,320	4,023
Unrealized gains on marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan	334	177
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value	13,546	11,792
Unrealized gain/(loss) on tax increment financing bond	$ 287	$ (135)