Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Assets: [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 17,330	[1]	$ 18,990	[1]
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,099		3,149
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	15,371		14,788
Impaired real estate assets and for-sale residential condominiums			12,767
Total Assets	35,800		49,694
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	124,880		110,655
Liabilities[Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	1,918,241	[1]	1,992,937	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	7,763		2,202
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,099		3,149
Financing obligations, at fair value	21,141	[1]	18,866	[1]
Total Liabilities	1,950,244		2,017,154
Level 1 [Member]
Assets: [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,099		3,149
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Impaired real estate assets and for-sale residential condominiums			0
Total Assets	3,099		3,149
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	124,880		110,655
Liabilities[Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,099		3,149
Financing obligations, at fair value	0		0
Total Liabilities	3,099		3,149
Level 2 [Member]
Assets: [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	17,330		18,990
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Impaired real estate assets and for-sale residential condominiums			0
Total Assets	17,330		18,990
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	0		0
Liabilities[Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	1,918,241		1,992,937
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	7,763		2,202
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	0		0
Total Liabilities	1,926,004		1,995,139
Level 3 [Member]
Assets: [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	15,371		14,788
Impaired real estate assets and for-sale residential condominiums			12,767
Total Assets	15,371		27,555
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	0		0
Liabilities[Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	21,141		18,866
Total Liabilities	21,141		18,866
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets: [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	17,330	[1]	18,990	[1]
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,099		3,149
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	15,371		14,788
Impaired real estate assets and for-sale residential condominiums			12,767
Total Assets	35,800		49,694
Liabilities[Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	1,918,241	[1]	1,992,937	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	7,763		2,202
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,099		3,149
Financing obligations, at fair value	21,141	[1]	18,866	[1]
Total Liabilities	1,950,244		2,017,154
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets: [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,099		3,149
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Impaired real estate assets and for-sale residential condominiums			0
Total Assets	3,099		3,149
Liabilities[Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,099		3,149
Financing obligations, at fair value	0		0
Total Liabilities	3,099		3,149
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets: [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	17,330		18,990
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Impaired real estate assets and for-sale residential condominiums			0
Total Assets	17,330		18,990
Liabilities[Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	1,918,241		1,992,937
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	7,763		2,202
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	0		0
Total Liabilities	1,926,004		1,995,139
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Assets: [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	15,371		14,788
Impaired real estate assets and for-sale residential condominiums			12,767
Total Assets	15,371		27,555
Liabilities[Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	21,141		18,866
Total Liabilities	$ 21,141		$ 18,866

[1] Amounts carried at historical cost on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.