Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 380,932	$ 371,730
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,365,154	3,281,362
Development in process	29,209	21,198
Land held for development	122,825	117,784
Total real estate assets	3,898,120	3,792,074
Less-accumulated depreciation	(966,448)	(939,550)
Net real estate assets	2,931,672	2,852,524
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	4,394	18,938
Cash and cash equivalents	12,170	13,783
Restricted cash	14,790	19,702
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,923 and $2,848, respectively	25,067	23,073
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $437 and $182, respectively	25,472	25,472
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,034 and $880, respectively	122,098	116,584
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	66,142	66,800
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $82,472 and $77,219, respectively	176,816	169,094
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,587 and $12,318, respectively	41,972	44,458
Total Assets	3,420,593	3,350,428
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	1,896,300	1,859,162
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	167,553	172,146
Financing obligations	29,251	29,358
Total Liabilities	2,093,104	2,060,666
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	147,317	124,869
Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share; 29,077 shares issued and outstanding)	29,077	29,077
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 82,130,593 and 80,311,437 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	821	803
Additional paid-in capital	2,076,081	2,040,306
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(919,328)	(897,418)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(11,170)	(12,628)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,175,481	1,160,140
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,691	4,753
Total Equity	1,180,172	1,164,893
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity	3,420,593	3,350,428
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	380,932	371,730
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,365,154	3,281,362
Development in process	29,209	21,198
Land held for development	122,825	117,784
Total real estate assets	3,898,120	3,792,074
Less-accumulated depreciation	(966,448)	(939,550)
Net real estate assets	2,931,672	2,852,524
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	4,394	18,938
Cash and cash equivalents	12,254	13,867
Restricted cash	14,790	19,702
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,923 and $2,848, respectively	25,067	23,073
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $437 and $182, respectively	25,472	25,472
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,034 and $880, respectively	122,098	116,584
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	65,109	65,813
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $82,472 and $77,219, respectively	176,816	169,094
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,587 and $12,318, respectively	41,830	44,458
Total Assets	3,419,502	3,349,525
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	1,896,300	1,859,162
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	167,530	172,026
Financing obligations	29,251	29,358
Total Liabilities	2,093,081	2,060,546
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 3,722,945 and 3,733,016 outstanding, respectively	147,317	124,869
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 29,077 units issued and outstanding	29,077	29,077
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	176,394	153,946
Equity:
General partner Common Units, 854,447 and 836,356 outstanding, respectively	11,563	11,427
Limited partner Common Units, 80,867,336 and 79,066,272 outstanding, respectively	1,144,943	1,131,481
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(11,170)	(12,628)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,691	4,753
Total Equity	1,150,027	1,135,033
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity	$ 3,419,502	$ 3,349,525