Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 986,859	$ 956,674	$ 726	$ 29,077	$ 9,575	$ 948,187	$ 1,803,997	$ (5,734)	$ (5,734)	$ 4,646	$ 4,646	$ (845,853)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			72,647,697
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of tax withholdings		91,836			918	90,918			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(65,597)			(656)	(64,941)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,254)			(13)	(1,241)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			2,794,340
Issuances of Common Stock, net of tax withholdings	91,836		28	0			91,808	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			18,366
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	631		0	0			631	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(62,787)		0	0			0	0		0		(62,787)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,254)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,254)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(16,501)		0	0			(16,501)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(460)	(460)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(460)	(460)	0
Issuances of restricted stock -shares			158,885
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,459	4,459	2	0	45	4,414	4,457	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(14,438)			(144)	(14,294)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,513)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,513)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(4)	(403)	0	0		407	407	(407)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	32,830	32,835	0	0	328	32,507	0	0	0	0	0	32,830
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(5,045)	(5,045)	0	0	0	0	0	(5,045)	(5,045)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	27,785	27,790
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	1,029,055	999,010	756	29,077	10,049	995,147	1,884,392	(10,779)	(10,779)	4,593	4,593	(878,984)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2012			75,619,288
Balance at Mar. 31, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(686)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	14,498	14,501
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(6,403)	(6,403)
Total comprehensive income	8,095	8,098
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	1,029,055	999,010
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,164,893	1,135,033	803	29,077	11,427	1,131,481	2,040,306	(12,628)	(12,628)	4,753	4,753	(897,418)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	80,311,437		80,311,437
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of tax withholdings		122,490			1,225	121,265			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(72,355)			(724)	(71,631)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,254)			(13)	(1,241)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			3,434,687
Issuances of Common Stock, net of tax withholdings	122,490		34	0			122,456	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			72,471
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	2,851		0	0			2,851	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(69,563)		0	0				0		0		(69,563)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,254)		0	0				0		0		(1,254)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(9,649)		0	0			(9,649)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(408)	(408)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(408)	(408)	0
Issuances of restricted stock -shares			151,630
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - Shares			(1,813)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,737	4,737	3	0	47	4,690	4,734	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(5,986)			(59)	(5,927)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,824)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,824)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(4)	(386)	0	0	0	390	390	(390)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	43,339	43,289	0	0	433	42,856	0	0	0	0	0	43,339
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	8,486	8,486	0	0	0	0	0	8,486	8,486	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	51,825	51,775
Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	1,264,098	1,234,032	840	29,077	12,332	1,221,107	2,160,698	(4,142)	(4,142)	4,735	4,735	(927,110)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2013	83,968,412		83,968,412
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,243)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	29,579	29,582
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	7,028	7,028
Total comprehensive income	36,607	36,610
Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	$ 1,264,098	$ 1,234,032
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2013	83,968,412