Discontinued Operations (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
Income Statement:
Rental and other revenues																	$ 10,120	$ 21,002	$ 23,917
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses																	3,766	8,865	9,273
Depreciation and amortization																	2,009	5,256	5,926
Total operating expenses																	5,775	14,121	15,199
Interest expense																	283	489	421
Income from discontinued operations																	4,062	6,392	8,297
Net gains/(losses) on disposition of discontinued operations																	29,455	2,573	(86)
Total discontinued operations	0	[1]	23,483	[1]	3,121	[1]	6,913	[1]	1,044	[1]	4,287	[1]	1,862	[1]	1,772	[1]	33,517	8,965	8,211
Carrying value of assets held for sale and assets sold that qualified for discontinued operations during the year	122,861								137,237								122,861	137,237	165,243
Assets:
Land	0								14,077								0	14,077
Buildings and tenant improvements	0								135,013								0	135,013
Less - accumulated depreciation	0								(32,254)								0	(32,254)
Net real estate assets	0								116,836								0	116,836
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	0								6,520								0	6,520
Deferred leasing costs, net	0								811								0	811
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0								106								0	106
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0								124,273								0	124,273
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable	0								34,307								0	34,307
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0								214								0	214
Financing obligations	0								1,294								0	1,294
Liabilities held for sale	0								35,815								0	35,815
Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]
Liabilities:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net									1									1
Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition [Member]
Liabilities:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net									5									5
Kansas City, MO Office Property Held For Sale [Member]
Liabilities:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net									1									1
Atlanta GA and Jackson MS Office Properties Disposition [Member]
Liabilities:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net									3									3
Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member]
Liabilities:
Number of residential properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net									96									96
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Statement:
Rental and other revenues																	10,120	21,002	23,917
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses																	3,766	8,865	9,273
Depreciation and amortization																	2,009	5,256	5,926
Total operating expenses																	5,775	14,121	15,199
Interest expense																	283	489	421
Income from discontinued operations																	4,062	6,392	8,297
Net gains/(losses) on disposition of discontinued operations																	29,455	2,573	(86)
Total discontinued operations	0		23,483		3,121		6,913		1,044		4,287		1,862		1,772		33,517	8,965	8,211
Carrying value of assets held for sale and assets sold that qualified for discontinued operations during the year	122,861								137,237								122,861	137,237	165,243
Assets:
Land	0								14,077								0	14,077
Buildings and tenant improvements	0								135,013								0	135,013
Less - accumulated depreciation	0								(32,254)								0	(32,254)
Net real estate assets	0								116,836								0	116,836
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	0								6,520								0	6,520
Deferred leasing costs, net	0								811								0	811
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0								106								0	106
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0								124,273								0	124,273
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable	0								34,307								0	34,307
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0								214								0	214
Financing obligations	0								1,294								0	1,294
Liabilities held for sale	$ 0								$ 35,815								$ 0	$ 35,815
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Pinellas County, FL Office Property Disposition [Member]
Liabilities:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net									1									1
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Nashville, TN Office Properties Disposition [Member]
Liabilities:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net									5									5
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Kansas City, MO Office Property Held For Sale [Member]
Liabilities:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net									1									1
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Atlanta GA and Jackson MS Office Properties Disposition [Member]
Liabilities:
Number of office properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net									3									3
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Kansas City, MO Rental Residential Disposition [Member]
Liabilities:
Number of residential properties included in real estate and other assets held for sale, net									96									96

[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.