Financing Arrangements (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Financing Obligations [Line Items]
Financing obligations	$ 29,358,000	$ 30,150,000
Harborview Financing Obligation [Member]
Financing Obligations [Line Items]
Financing obligations	17,571,000	17,086,000
Equity interest in consolidated affiliate	80.00%
Term of put option right (in years)	1 year
Commencement date of put option term	Sep. 11, 2014
Transaction cost percentage to sell financing obligation	3.00%
Initial financing obligation	12,700,000
Additional financing obligation	1,800,000
Gross financing obligation increased for net income (in hundredths)	80.00%
Date through which valuation allowance is amortized	September 2014
Put option fair value	12,700,000	6,200,000
Tax Increment Financing Obligation Bond [Member]
Financing Obligations [Line Items]
Financing obligations	11,787,000	13,064,000
Term of period for financing obligation payments	20 years
Expiration date for financing obligation	Oct. 31, 2019
Discount rate of financing obligation	6.93%
Acquisition date of financing obligation	Dec. 01, 2007
Capitalized Ground Lease Obligation [Member]
Financing Obligations [Line Items]
Discount rate of financing obligation	7.10%
Years financing obligation is associated at net present value	9 years
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Financing Obligations [Line Items]
Financing obligations	29,358,000	30,150,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Harborview Financing Obligation [Member]
Financing Obligations [Line Items]
Financing obligations	17,571,000	17,086,000
Equity interest in consolidated affiliate	80.00%
Commencement date of put option term	Sep. 11, 2014
Transaction cost percentage to sell financing obligation	3.00%
Initial financing obligation	12,700,000
Additional financing obligation	1,800,000
Gross financing obligation increased for net income (in hundredths)	80.00%
Date through which valuation allowance is amortized	September 2014
Put option fair value	12,700,000	6,200,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Tax Increment Financing Obligation Bond [Member]
Financing Obligations [Line Items]
Financing obligations	$ 11,787,000	$ 13,064,000
Term of period for financing obligation payments	20 years
Expiration date for financing obligation	Oct. 31, 2019
Discount rate of financing obligation	6.93%
Acquisition date of financing obligation	Dec. 01, 2007
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Capitalized Ground Lease Obligation [Member]
Financing Obligations [Line Items]
Discount rate of financing obligation	7.10%
Years financing obligation is associated at net present value	9 years