Share-Based Payments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 1,297,000	$ 2,037,000	$ 4,737,000	$ 4,459,000
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation costs	$ 6,100,000		$ 6,100,000
Weighted average remaining contractual term for recognition of unrecognized stock-based compensation costs (in years)			2 years 7 months 12 days
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options granted			168,700
Weighted average grant date fair value of each stock option granted (in dollars per option)			$ 6.50
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Time-Based Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock shares granted			86,144
Weighted average grant date fair value of each restricted stock granted (in dollars per share)			$ 36.64
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Total Return-Based Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock shares granted			65,486
Weighted average grant date fair value of each restricted stock granted (in dollars per share)			$ 31.73