Rental and Other Revenues; Rental Property and Other Expenses (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Real Estate Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Contractual rents, net																	$ 439,610	$ 402,275	$ 379,554
Straight-line rental income, net																	18,775	12,173	10,582
Amortization of lease incentives																	(1,424)	(1,342)	(1,202)
Cost recovery income, net																	41,289	35,561	41,101
Lease termination fees																	1,848	2,439	2,938
Fee income																	4,965	5,571	5,466
Other miscellaneous operating revenues																	11,039	6,767	2,397
Real estate revenue, net	133,982	[1]	128,214	[1]	128,323	[1]	125,583	[1]	123,947	[1]	117,265	[1]	112,185	[1]	110,047	[1]	516,102	463,444	440,836
Future minimum base rents [Abstract]
2013	463,913																463,913
2014	430,278																430,278
2015	378,021																378,021
2016	325,970																325,970
2017	267,530																267,530
Thereafter	878,894																878,894
Total future minimum base rents	2,744,606																2,744,606
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Utilities, insurance and real estate taxes																	100,956	92,119	86,013
Maintenance, cleaning and general building																	69,026	58,910	54,422
Property management and administrative expenses																	12,542	11,295	10,832
Other miscellaneous operating expenses																	4,910	5,529	4,504
Rental property and other expenses, net																	187,434	167,853	155,771
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real Estate Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Contractual rents, net																	439,610	402,275	379,554
Straight-line rental income, net																	18,775	12,173	10,582
Amortization of lease incentives																	(1,424)	(1,342)	(1,202)
Cost recovery income, net																	41,289	35,561	41,101
Lease termination fees																	1,848	2,439	2,938
Fee income																	4,965	5,571	5,466
Other miscellaneous operating revenues																	11,039	6,767	2,397
Real estate revenue, net	133,982		128,214		128,323		125,583		123,947		117,265		112,185		110,047		516,102	463,444	440,836
Future minimum base rents [Abstract]
2013	463,913																463,913
2014	430,278																430,278
2015	378,021																378,021
2016	325,970																325,970
2017	267,530																267,530
Thereafter	878,894																878,894
Total future minimum base rents	2,744,606																2,744,606
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Utilities, insurance and real estate taxes																	100,707	92,093	85,653
Maintenance, cleaning and general building																	69,026	58,910	54,422
Property management and administrative expenses																	12,542	11,295	10,832
Other miscellaneous operating expenses																	4,910	5,529	4,504
Rental property and other expenses, net																	$ 187,185	$ 167,827	$ 155,411

[1] The amounts presented may not equal to the amounts previously reported in the most recent Form 10-Qs or prior 10-K for each period as a result of discontinued operations.