Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Rental and other revenues	$ 138,515		$ 126,728		$ 274,631		$ 250,762
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	49,633		45,884		98,372		90,066
Depreciation and amortization	42,394		38,991		84,208		75,687
Impairments of real estate assets	1,066		0		1,066		0
General and administrative	8,397		8,900		18,979		18,573
Total operating expenses	101,490		93,775		202,625		184,326
Interest expense:
Contractual	22,398		23,548		45,196		47,399
Amortization of deferred financing costs	948		900		1,897		1,802
Financing obligations	(60)		(76)		61		(152)
Total interest expense	23,286		24,372		47,154		49,049
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,617		1,737		3,400		3,967
Losses on debt extinguishment	0		(973)		(164)		(973)
Total other income	1,617		764		3,236		2,994
Income from continuing operations before disposition of property and condominiums and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	15,356		9,345		28,088		20,381
Losses on disposition of property	(37)		0		(37)		0
Gains on for-sale residential condominiums	0		110		0		175
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	913		1,508		1,349		1,346
Income from continuing operations	16,232		10,963		29,400		21,902
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	184		2,150		245		4,409
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	13,163		1,385		13,694		6,519
Total discontinued operations	13,347		3,535		13,939		10,928
Net income	29,579		14,498		43,339		32,830
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,243)		(686)		(1,824)		(1,513)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(187)		(223)		(390)		(407)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
Net income available for common stockholders	27,522		12,962		39,871		29,656
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.13		$ 0.33		$ 0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.04		$ 0.16		$ 0.14
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33		$ 0.17		$ 0.49		$ 0.40
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	82,811	[1],[2]	74,662	[1],[2]	81,925	[1],[2]	73,749	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.13		$ 0.33		$ 0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.04		$ 0.16		$ 0.14
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33		$ 0.17		$ 0.49		$ 0.40
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	86,631	[2]	78,521	[2]	85,752	[2]	77,601	[2]
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425		$ 0.850		$ 0.850
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	14,746		9,596		26,529		19,259
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	12,776		3,366		13,342		10,397
Net income available for common stockholders	27,522		12,962		39,871		29,656
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	138,515		126,728		274,631		250,762
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	49,611		45,825		98,376		89,945
Depreciation and amortization	42,394		38,991		84,208		75,687
Impairments of real estate assets	1,066		0		1,066		0
General and administrative	8,419		8,959		18,975		18,694
Total operating expenses	101,490		93,775		202,625		184,326
Interest expense:
Contractual	22,398		23,548		45,196		47,399
Amortization of deferred financing costs	948		900		1,897		1,802
Financing obligations	(60)		(76)		61		(152)
Total interest expense	23,286		24,372		47,154		49,049
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,617		1,737		3,400		3,967
Losses on debt extinguishment	0		(973)		(164)		(973)
Total other income	1,617		764		3,236		2,994
Income from continuing operations before disposition of property and condominiums and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	15,356		9,345		28,088		20,381
Losses on disposition of property	(37)		0		(37)		0
Gains on for-sale residential condominiums	0		110		0		175
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	916		1,511		1,299		1,351
Income from continuing operations	16,235		10,966		29,350		21,907
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	184		2,150		245		4,409
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	13,163		1,385		13,694		6,519
Total discontinued operations	13,347		3,535		13,939		10,928
Net income	29,582		14,501		43,289		32,835
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(187)		(223)		(390)		(407)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,254)		(1,254)
Net income available for common unitholders	28,768		13,651		41,645		31,174
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.13		$ 0.33		$ 0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.05		$ 0.16		$ 0.14
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33		$ 0.18		$ 0.49		$ 0.40
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	86,090	[1],[2],[3]	77,971	[1],[3]	85,223	[1],[3]	77,063	[1],[3]
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.18		0.13		0.33		0.26
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.15		0.04		0.16		0.14
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.33		0.17		0.49		0.40
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	86,222	[3]	78,112	[2],[3]	85,343	[3]	77,192	[3]
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425		$ 0.850		$ 0.850
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	15,421		10,116		27,706		20,246
Total discontinued operations	13,347		3,535		13,939		10,928
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 28,768		$ 13,651		$ 41,645		$ 31,174

[1] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

[2] There were 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.

[3] There were 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per unit because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.