Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating ground leases [Abstract]
Rental property expense	$ 1,500,000	$ 1,400,000	$ 1,500,000
Operating ground leases, scheduled future minimum payments [Abstract]
Operating leases, future minimum payments due, 2013	2,383,000
Operating leases, future minimum payments, 2014	2,404,000
Operating leases, future minimum payments, 2015	2,427,000
Operating leases, future minimum payments, 2016	2,451,000
Operating leases, future minimum payments, 2017	2,476,000
Operating leases, future minimum payments, thereafter	49,875,000
Operating leases, total future minimum payments due	62,016,000
Lease and Contractual Commitments [Abstract]
Lease and contractual commitments	122,000,000
Accrued amount of lease and contractual commitments	22,100,000
DLF I obligation [Abstract]
Excess contribution, gross	7,200,000
Term to repay excess contribution (in years)	14 years
Excess contribution, initial repayment date	3/12/1999
Excess contribution, net discounted amount	3,800,000
Excess contribution, discount rate	9.62%
Excess contribution, payments	600,000	600,000	600,000
Excess contribution, discounted balance	200,000	800,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Operating ground leases [Abstract]
Rental property expense	1,500,000	1,400,000	1,500,000
Operating ground leases, scheduled future minimum payments [Abstract]
Operating leases, future minimum payments due, 2013	2,383,000
Operating leases, future minimum payments, 2014	2,404,000
Operating leases, future minimum payments, 2015	2,427,000
Operating leases, future minimum payments, 2016	2,451,000
Operating leases, future minimum payments, 2017	2,476,000
Operating leases, future minimum payments, thereafter	49,875,000
Operating leases, total future minimum payments due	62,016,000
Lease and Contractual Commitments [Abstract]
Lease and contractual commitments	122,000,000
Accrued amount of lease and contractual commitments	22,100,000
DLF I obligation [Abstract]
Excess contribution, gross	7,200,000
Term to repay excess contribution (in years)	14 years
Excess contribution, initial repayment date	3/12/1999
Excess contribution, net discounted amount	3,800,000
Excess contribution, discount rate	9.62%
Excess contribution, payments	600,000	600,000	600,000
Excess contribution, discounted balance	$ 200,000	$ 800,000