Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 12,357		$ 13,695		$ 25,020		$ 25,223
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(584)		(586)		(1,133)		(1,047)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(223)		(182)		(407)		(305)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(1,622)		(1,254)		(3,299)
Excess of Preferred Stock redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value	0		(1,895)		0		(1,895)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	10,923		9,410		22,226		18,677
Income from discontinued operations	2,141		739		7,810		1,654
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	(102)		(37)		(380)		(83)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	2,039		702		7,430		1,571
Net income available for common stockholders	12,962		10,112		29,656		20,248
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	74,662,000	[1],[2]	72,211,000	[1],[2]	73,749,000	[1],[2]	72,015,000	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.13		$ 0.30		$ 0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02		$ 0.01		$ 0.10		$ 0.02
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17		$ 0.14		$ 0.40		$ 0.28
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	12,357		13,695		25,020		25,223
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(223)		(182)		(407)		(305)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(1,622)		(1,254)		(3,299)
Excess of Preferred Stock redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value	0		(1,895)		0		(1,895)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	11,507		9,996		23,359		19,724
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	2,141		739		7,810		1,654
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	13,648		10,735		31,169		21,378
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	74,662,000	[1],[2]	72,211,000	[1],[2]	73,749,000	[1],[2]	72,015,000	[1],[2]
Stock options using the treasury method	141,000		202,000		129,000		185,000
Noncontrolling interests Common Units	3,718,000		3,784,000		3,723,000		3,787,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares) (1)	78,521,000	[1]	76,197,000	[1]	77,601,000	[1]	75,987,000	[1]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.13		$ 0.30		$ 0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02		$ 0.01		$ 0.10		$ 0.02
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17		$ 0.14		$ 0.40		$ 0.28
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)	500,000		300,000		500,000		600,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	12,360		13,699		25,025		25,235
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(223)		(182)		(407)		(305)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(1,622)		(1,254)		(3,299)
Excess of Preferred Unit redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value	0		(1,895)		0		(1,895)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	11,510		10,000		23,364		19,736
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	2,141		739		7,810		1,654
Net income available for common unitholders	13,651		10,739		31,174		21,390
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	77,971,000	[1],[2]	75,586,000	[1],[2]	77,063,000	[1],[2]	75,393,000	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.13		$ 0.30		$ 0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03		$ 0.01		$ 0.10		$ 0.02
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.14		$ 0.40		$ 0.28
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	12,360		13,699		25,025		25,235
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(223)		(182)		(407)		(305)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(1,622)		(1,254)		(3,299)
Excess of Preferred Unit redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value	0		(1,895)		0		(1,895)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	11,510		10,000		23,364		19,736
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	2,141		739		7,810		1,654
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 13,651		$ 10,739		$ 31,174		$ 21,390
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	77,971,000	[1],[2]	75,586,000	[1],[2]	77,063,000	[1],[2]	75,393,000	[1],[2]
Stock options using the treasury method	141,000		202,000		129,000		185,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	78,112,000	[1]	75,788,000	[1]	77,192,000	[1]	75,578,000	[1]
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.15		0.13		0.30		0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.02		0.01		0.10		0.02
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.17		0.14		0.40		0.28
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)	500,000		300,000		500,000		600,000

[1] There were 0.5 million and 0.3 million options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and 0.5 million and 0.6 million options outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.

[2] Includes all unvested restricted stock since dividends on restricted stock are non-forfeitable.