Real Estate Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended							9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 property	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 property	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Atlanta, GA Office Property Acquisition (2012) [Member] sqft	Sep. 30, 2012 Greensboro, NC Medical Office Properties Acquisition [Member] property	Sep. 30, 2011 Pittsburgh PA Office Property Acquisition [Member] property sqft	Sep. 30, 2011 Atlanta GA Office Property Acquisition [Member] sqft	Jun. 30, 2012 Cary, NC Office Property Acquisition [Member] sqft	Sep. 30, 2012 Kansas City, MO Office Property Disposition (2012) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition [Member] property	Sep. 30, 2012 Atlanta, GA and Jackson, MS Office Properties Disposition [Member] property	Mar. 31, 2012 Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member] properties	Jun. 30, 2012 Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] property	Sep. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] property	Sep. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Atlanta, GA Office Property Acquisition (2012) [Member] sqft	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Greensboro, NC Medical Office Properties Acquisition [Member] property	Sep. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Pittsburgh PA Office Property Acquisition [Member] sqft property	Sep. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Atlanta GA Office Property Acquisition [Member] sqft	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Cary, NC Office Property Acquisition [Member] sqft	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Kansas City, MO Office Property Disposition (2012) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition [Member] property	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Atlanta, GA and Jackson, MS Office Properties Disposition [Member] property	Mar. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member] properties	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of office properties acquired	3		3			2	6								3		3			2	6
Rentable square feet of acquisition (in sq. ft)					492,000		1,540,000	503,000	178,300										492,000		1,540,000	503,000	178,300
Acquisition purchase price	$ 161,200,000		$ 161,200,000		$ 144,900,000	$ 16,300,000	$ 188,500,000	$ 78,300,000	$ 26,000,000						$ 161,200,000		$ 161,200,000		$ 144,900,000	$ 16,300,000	$ 188,500,000	$ 78,300,000	$ 26,000,000
Common Units issued to acquire real estate assets (in shares)	66,864		66,864			66,864									66,864		66,864			66,864
Contingent consideration at fair value	563,000		563,000			700,000									563,000		563,000			700,000
Acquisition-related costs	700,000				540,000	113,000									700,000				500,000	100,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Real estate assets	135,128,000		135,128,000												135,128,000		135,128,000
Acquisition-related intangible assets (in deferred financing and leasing costs)	21,637,000		21,637,000												21,637,000		21,637,000
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	(11,875,000)		(11,875,000)												(11,875,000)		(11,875,000)
Total allocation	144,890,000		144,890,000												144,890,000		144,890,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Pro forma rental and other revenues	132,632,000	132,269,000	395,161,000	385,246,000											132,632,000	132,269,000	395,161,000	385,246,000
Pro forma net income	35,765,000	7,626,000	68,526,000	33,268,000											35,769,000	7,626,000	68,535,000	33,280,000
Pro forma earnings per share - basic	$ 0.43	$ 0.09	$ 0.84	$ 0.35											$ 0.44	$ 0.09	$ 0.85	$ 0.36
Pro forma earnings per share - diluted	$ 0.43	$ 0.09	$ 0.84	$ 0.35											$ 0.44	$ 0.09	$ 0.85	$ 0.36
Pro forma, assumption date of acquisition					Jan. 01, 2011		Jan. 01, 2010	Jan. 01, 2010											Jan. 01, 2011		Jan. 01, 2010	Jan. 01, 2010
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of rental residential units													96														96
Number of office properties sold											5	3													5	3
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate										6,500,000	41,000,000	86,500,000	11,000,000	9,500,000										6,500,000	41,000,000	86,500,000	11,000,000	9,500,000
Gains on disposition of discontinued operations	$ 22,936,000	$ 2,573,000	$ 29,455,000	$ 2,573,000						$ 1,900,000	$ 7,000,000	$ 14,000,000	$ 5,100,000	$ 1,400,000	$ 22,936,000	$ 2,573,000	$ 29,455,000	$ 2,573,000						$ 1,900,000	$ 7,000,000	$ 14,000,000	$ 5,100,000	$ 1,400,000