Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 1,648	$ 2,848
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	302	182
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	1,063	813
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	92,220	75,008
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	12,905	12,318
Equity:
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Preferred Stock, shares issued (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Preferred Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued (in shares)	89,920,915	80,311,437
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	89,920,915	80,311,437
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	1,648	2,848
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	302	182
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	1,063	813
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	92,220	75,008
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	$ 12,905	$ 12,318
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Redeemable Common Units, outstanding (in shares)	2,943,872	3,733,016
Preferred Units liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Series A Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Common Units:
General partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	924,560	836,356
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	88,587,546	79,066,272