Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 swaps	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of derivative instruments obtained	6
Derivative maturity date	Jan. 01, 2019
Amount of borrowings outstanding	$ 225,000,000
Interest rate under derivative instruments	1.678%
Cross-default minimum threshold	10,000,000
Expected increase to interest expense	3,300,000
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in other liabilities [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	9,369,000	2,202,000
Amount of unrealized losses recognized in AOCL on derivatives (effective portion) [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	(10,358,000)	(2,202,000)	0
Amount of (gains)/losses reclassified out of AOCL into contractual interest expense (effective portion) [Abstract]
Amortization of cash flow hedges	3,053,000	(118,000)	237,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of derivative instruments obtained	6
Derivative maturity date	Jan. 01, 2019
Amount of borrowings outstanding	225,000,000
Interest rate under derivative instruments	1.678%
Cross-default minimum threshold	10,000,000
Expected increase to interest expense	3,300,000
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in other liabilities [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	9,369,000	2,202,000
Amount of unrealized losses recognized in AOCL on derivatives (effective portion) [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	(10,358,000)	(2,202,000)	0
Amount of (gains)/losses reclassified out of AOCL into contractual interest expense (effective portion) [Abstract]
Amortization of cash flow hedges	$ 3,053,000	$ (118,000)	$ 237,000