Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 swaps	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 swaps	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of derivative instruments obtained	6		6
Term of derivative instruments (in years)			7 years
Amount of borrowings outstanding	$ 225,000,000		$ 225,000,000
Interest rate under derivative instruments	1.678%		1.678%
Cross-default minimum threshold			10,000,000
Expected increase to interest expense	3,100,000		3,100,000
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in other liabilities [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	7,763,000		7,763,000		2,202,000
Amount of unrealized losses recognized in AOCL on derivatives (effective portion) [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	(7,481,000)	0	(7,087,000)	0
Amount of (gains)/losses reclassified out of AOCL into contractual interest expense (effective portion) [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	782,000	(29,000)	1,459,000	(58,000)
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of derivative instruments obtained	6		6
Term of derivative instruments (in years)			7 years
Amount of borrowings outstanding	225,000,000		225,000,000
Interest rate under derivative instruments	1.678%		1.678%
Cross-default minimum threshold			10,000,000
Expected increase to interest expense	3,100,000		3,100,000
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in other liabilities [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	7,763,000		7,763,000		2,202,000
Amount of unrealized losses recognized in AOCL on derivatives (effective portion) [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	(7,481,000)	0	(7,087,000)	0
Amount of (gains)/losses reclassified out of AOCL into contractual interest expense (effective portion) [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	$ 782,000	$ (29,000)	$ 1,459,000	$ (58,000)