Real Estate Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 acre	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisition of development land (in acres)	649
Common Units issued to acquire real estate assets (in shares)	66,864
Business acquisition, contingent consideration at fair value	$ 563,000
Acquisition-related costs	1,500,000
Dispositions [Abstract]
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	29,455,000	2,573,000	(86,000)
Gains on disposition of property	0	764,000	74,000
Amount of impairment recorded on disposition	0	2,429,000	0
Pro Forma 2012 Acquisitions [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Business acquisition, pro forma assumption date of acquisition	Jan. 01, 2011
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Amount of real estate assets acquired	135,128,000
Amount of acquisition-related intangible assets (in deferred leasing and financing costs) acquired	21,637,000
Amount of acquisition-related intangible liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other expenses assumed)	(11,875,000)
Total consideration from the acquisition	144,890,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Proforma rental and other revenues	530,613,000	479,908,000
Proforma net income	84,135,000	44,817,000
Proforma earnings per share - basic	$ 1.02	$ 0.49
Proforma earnings per share - diluted	$ 1.01	$ 0.49
Pro Forma 2011 Acquisitions [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Business acquisition, pro forma assumption date of acquisition		Jan. 01, 2010
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Amount of real estate assets acquired		241,602,000
Amount of acquisition-related intangible assets (in deferred leasing and financing costs) acquired		39,721,000
Amount of furniture, fixtures and equipment (in prepaid and other assets) acquired		1,101,000
Amount of acquisition-related intangible liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other expenses assumed)		(15,627,000)
Total consideration from the acquisition		266,797,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Proforma rental and other revenues		505,072,000	491,573,000
Proforma net income		45,674,000	65,409,000
Proforma earnings per share - basic		$ 0.50	$ 0.77
Proforma earnings per share - diluted		$ 0.50	$ 0.77
Atlanta, GA Office Property Acquisition (2012) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)	492,000
Acquisition purchase price	144,900,000
Acquisition-related costs	500,000
Pittsburgh PA Office Property Acquisition (2012) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)	616,000
Acquisition purchase price	91,200,000
Greensboro, NC Medical Office Properties Acquisition (2012) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of office properties acquired	3
Acquisition purchase price	29,600,000
Common Units issued to acquire real estate assets (in shares)	66,864
Business acquisition, contingent consideration at fair value	700,000
Fair value of assumed debt from the acquisition	7,900,000
Effective interest rate of assumed secured debt from the acquisition	4.06%
Maturity of assumed debt from the acquisition	Aug. 01, 2014
Cary, NC Office Property Acquisition (2012) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)	178,300
Acquisition purchase price	26,000,000
Nashville TN Development Land Acquisition (2012) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisition of development land (in acres)	68.0
Acquisition purchase price	15,000,000
Square footage zoned for future development	1,300,000
Atlanta GA Office Property Acquisition (2011) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)		503,000
Acquisition purchase price		78,300,000
Fair value of assumed debt from the acquisition		67,900,000
Effective interest rate of assumed secured debt from the acquisition		5.45%
Maturity of assumed debt from the acquisition		Jan. 01, 2014
Acquisition-related costs		300,000
Pittsburgh PA Office Property Acquisition (2011) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)		1,540,000
Acquisition purchase price		188,500,000
Fair value of assumed debt from the acquisition		124,500,000
Effective interest rate of assumed secured debt from the acquisition		4.27%
Maturity of assumed debt from the acquisition		Nov. 01, 2017
Acquisition-related costs		4,000,000
Raleigh NC Office Property Acquisition (2011) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)		48,000
Acquisition purchase price		8,900,000
Acquisition-related costs		100,000
Memphis TN Office Property Acquisition (2010) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)			336,000
Acquisition purchase price			52,600,000
Fair value of assumed debt from the acquisition			40,300,000
Effective interest rate of assumed secured debt from the acquisition			6.43%
Maturity of assumed debt from the acquisition			Nov. 01, 2015
Acquisition-related costs			400,000
Tampa FL Office Property and Land Acquisition (2010) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)			117,000
Acquisition of development land (in acres)			32.6
Acquisition purchase price			12,000,000
Acquisition-related costs			200,000
For Sale Residential Condominium JV Interest Acquisition (2010) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisition purchase price			500,000
Atlanta GA and Jackson MS Office Properties Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of office properties sold	3
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	86,500,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	14,000,000
Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of office properties sold	5
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	41,000,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	7,000,000
Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of office properties sold	1
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	9,500,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	1,400,000
Kansas City, MO Office Property Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of office properties sold	1
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	6,500,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	1,900,000
Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Rental residential units (in units)	96
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	11,000,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	5,100,000
Raleigh NC Residential Condominiums Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Rental residential units (in units)	17
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	5,500,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	400,000
Winston-Salem NC Disposition (2011) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate		15,000,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations		2,600,000
Gains on disposition of property		300,000
Winston-Salem NC and Greensboro NC Office and Industrial Property Disposition (2010) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of office properties sold			7
Number of industrial properties sold			6
Number of transactions in disposition			2
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate			24,900,000
Cash received from sale of real estate			7,900,000
Amount of seller financing provided			17,000,000
Additional potential seller financing commitment			1,700,000
Amount of commited additional seller financing funded	200,000
Amount of impairment recorded on disposition			300,000
Deferred gain on sale of property			400,000
Raleigh NC Office Property Disposition (2010) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Gains on disposition of property			200,000
Orlando FL Office Property Impairment [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Amount of impairment recorded on disposition		2,400,000
Impairments [Abstract]
Number of long lived assets held for use impaired		2
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisition of development land (in acres)	649
Common Units issued to acquire real estate assets (in shares)	66,864
Business acquisition, contingent consideration at fair value	563,000
Acquisition-related costs	1,500,000
Dispositions [Abstract]
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	29,455,000	2,573,000	(86,000)
Gains on disposition of property	0	764,000	74,000
Amount of impairment recorded on disposition	0	2,429,000	0
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Pro Forma 2012 Acquisitions [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Business acquisition, pro forma assumption date of acquisition	Jan. 01, 2011
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Amount of real estate assets acquired	135,128,000
Amount of acquisition-related intangible assets (in deferred leasing and financing costs) acquired	21,637,000
Amount of acquisition-related intangible liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other expenses assumed)	(11,875,000)
Total consideration from the acquisition	144,890,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Proforma rental and other revenues	530,613,000	479,908,000
Proforma net income	84,195,000	44,878,000
Proforma earnings per share - basic	$ 1.02	$ 0.50
Proforma earnings per share - diluted	$ 1.02	$ 0.50
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Pro Forma 2011 Acquisitions [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Business acquisition, pro forma assumption date of acquisition		Jan. 01, 2010
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Amount of real estate assets acquired		241,602,000
Amount of acquisition-related intangible assets (in deferred leasing and financing costs) acquired		39,721,000
Amount of furniture, fixtures and equipment (in prepaid and other assets) acquired		1,101,000
Amount of acquisition-related intangible liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other expenses assumed)		(15,627,000)
Total consideration from the acquisition		266,797,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Proforma rental and other revenues		505,072,000	491,573,000
Proforma net income		38,470,000	58,216,000
Proforma earnings per share - basic		$ 0.51	$ 0.78
Proforma earnings per share - diluted		$ 0.51	$ 0.77
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Atlanta, GA Office Property Acquisition (2012) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)	492,000
Acquisition purchase price	144,900,000
Acquisition-related costs	500,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Pittsburgh PA Office Property Acquisition (2012) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)	616,000
Acquisition purchase price	91,200,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Greensboro, NC Medical Office Properties Acquisition (2012) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of office properties acquired	3
Acquisition purchase price	29,600,000
Common Units issued to acquire real estate assets (in shares)	66,864
Business acquisition, contingent consideration at fair value	700,000
Fair value of assumed debt from the acquisition	7,900,000
Effective interest rate of assumed secured debt from the acquisition	4.06%
Maturity of assumed debt from the acquisition	Aug. 01, 2014
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Cary, NC Office Property Acquisition (2012) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)	178,300
Acquisition purchase price	26,000,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Nashville TN Development Land Acquisition (2012) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisition of development land (in acres)	68.0
Acquisition purchase price	15,000,000
Square footage zoned for future development	1,300,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Atlanta GA Office Property Acquisition (2011) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)		503,000
Acquisition purchase price		78,300,000
Fair value of assumed debt from the acquisition		67,900,000
Effective interest rate of assumed secured debt from the acquisition		5.45%
Maturity of assumed debt from the acquisition		Jan. 01, 2014
Acquisition-related costs		300,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Pittsburgh PA Office Property Acquisition (2011) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)		1,540,000
Acquisition purchase price		188,500,000
Fair value of assumed debt from the acquisition		124,500,000
Effective interest rate of assumed secured debt from the acquisition		4.27%
Maturity of assumed debt from the acquisition		Nov. 01, 2017
Acquisition-related costs		4,000,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Raleigh NC Office Property Acquisition (2011) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)		48,000
Acquisition purchase price		8,900,000
Acquisition-related costs		100,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Memphis TN Office Property Acquisition (2010) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)			336,000
Acquisition purchase price			52,600,000
Fair value of assumed debt from the acquisition			40,300,000
Effective interest rate of assumed secured debt from the acquisition			6.43%
Maturity of assumed debt from the acquisition			Nov. 01, 2015
Acquisition-related costs			400,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Tampa FL Office Property and Land Acquisition (2010) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Net rentable square feet of acquisition (in sqft)			117,000
Acquisition of development land (in acres)			32.6
Acquisition purchase price			12,000,000
Acquisition-related costs			200,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | For Sale Residential Condominium JV Interest Acquisition (2010) [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisition purchase price			500,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Atlanta GA and Jackson MS Office Properties Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of office properties sold	3
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	86,500,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	14,000,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of office properties sold	5
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	41,000,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	7,000,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of office properties sold	1
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	9,500,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	1,400,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Kansas City, MO Office Property Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of office properties sold	1
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	6,500,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	1,900,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Rental residential units (in units)	96
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	11,000,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	5,100,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Raleigh NC Residential Condominiums Disposition (2012) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Rental residential units (in units)	17
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate	5,500,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	400,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Winston-Salem NC Disposition (2011) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate		15,000,000
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations		2,600,000
Gains on disposition of property		300,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Winston-Salem NC and Greensboro NC Office and Industrial Property Disposition (2010) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of office properties sold			7
Number of industrial properties sold			6
Number of transactions in disposition			2
Gross proceeds from the sale of real estate			24,900,000
Cash received from sale of real estate			7,900,000
Amount of seller financing provided			17,000,000
Additional potential seller financing commitment			1,700,000
Amount of commited additional seller financing funded	200,000
Gains on disposition of property			400,000
Amount of impairment recorded on disposition			300,000
Deferred gain on sale of property			400,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Raleigh NC Office Property Disposition (2010) [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Gains on disposition of property			200,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Orlando FL Office Property Impairment [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Amount of impairment recorded on disposition		$ 2,400,000
Impairments [Abstract]
Number of long lived assets held for use impaired		2