Earnings Per Share/Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 19,328	$ 16,608	$ 15,487	$ 11,300	$ 13,225	$ 9,617	$ 8,756	$ 8,715	$ 62,723		$ 40,313		$ 30,885
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations									(2,185)		(1,767)		(1,239)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(356)	(203)	(187)	(203)	(220)	(159)	(223)	(184)	(949)		(786)		(755)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(2,508)		(2,508)		(4,553)
Excess of Preferred Stock redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value									0		0		(1,895)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders									57,081		35,252		22,443
Income from discontinued operations	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	2,384	26,179	5,742	9,617	68,374		43,922		17,086
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations									(2,506)		(2,087)		(852)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders									65,868		41,835		16,234
Net income available for common stockholders	29,729	53,349	27,522	12,349	14,074	33,357	12,962	16,694	122,949		77,087		38,677
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									85,335,000	[1],[2]	75,811,000	[1],[2]	72,281,000	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 0.15	$ 0.11	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.67		$ 0.47		$ 0.31
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.44	$ 0.16	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.33	$ 0.07	$ 0.13	$ 0.77		$ 0.55		$ 0.23
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.61	$ 0.33	$ 0.15	$ 0.18	$ 0.44	$ 0.17	$ 0.23	$ 1.44		$ 1.02		$ 0.54
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	19,328	16,608	15,487	11,300	13,225	9,617	8,756	8,715	62,723		40,313		30,885
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(356)	(203)	(187)	(203)	(220)	(159)	(223)	(184)	(949)		(786)		(755)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(2,508)		(2,508)		(4,553)
Excess of Preferred Stock redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value									0		0		(1,895)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									59,266		37,019		23,682
Income from discontinued operations	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	2,384	26,179	5,742	9,617	68,374		43,922		17,086
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									127,640		80,941		40,768
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									85,335,000	[1],[2]	75,811,000	[1],[2]	72,281,000	[1],[2]
Stock options using the treasury method									114,000		122,000		136,000
Noncontrolling interests Common Units									3,387,000		3,745,000		3,772,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares) (1)									88,836,000	[1]	79,678,000	[1]	76,189,000	[1]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 0.15	$ 0.11	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.67		$ 0.47		$ 0.31
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.44	$ 0.16	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.32	$ 0.07	$ 0.13	$ 0.77		$ 0.55		$ 0.23
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.61	$ 0.33	$ 0.15	$ 0.18	$ 0.43	$ 0.17	$ 0.23	$ 1.44		$ 1.02		$ 0.54
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)									300,000		500,000		400,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	19,328	16,607	15,490	11,247	13,276	9,621	8,759	8,717	62,672		40,373		30,946
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(356)	(203)	(187)	(203)	(220)	(159)	(223)	(184)	(949)		(786)		(755)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(2,508)		(2,508)		(4,553)
Excess of Preferred Unit redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value									0		0		(1,895)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders									59,215		37,079		23,743
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	2,384	26,179	5,742	9,617	68,374		43,922		17,086
Net income available for common unitholders	30,707	55,237	28,768	12,877	14,813	35,014	13,651	17,523	127,589		81,001		40,829
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									88,313,000		79,147,000		75,644,000
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 0.15	$ 0.11	$ 0.11	$ 0.10	$ 0.67		$ 0.47		$ 0.31
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.44	$ 0.16	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.33	$ 0.07	$ 0.13	$ 0.77		$ 0.55		$ 0.23
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.61	$ 0.33	$ 0.15	$ 0.18	$ 0.44	$ 0.18	$ 0.23	$ 1.44		$ 1.02		$ 0.54
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	19,328	16,607	15,490	11,247	13,276	9,621	8,759	8,717	62,672		40,373		30,946
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(356)	(203)	(187)	(203)	(220)	(159)	(223)	(184)	(949)		(786)		(755)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(2,508)		(2,508)		(4,553)
Excess of Preferred Unit redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value									0		0		(1,895)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders									59,215		37,079		23,743
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	2,384	26,179	5,742	9,617	68,374		43,922		17,086
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 30,707	$ 55,237	$ 28,768	$ 12,877	$ 14,813	$ 35,014	$ 13,651	$ 17,523	$ 127,589		$ 81,001		$ 40,829
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									88,313,000		79,147,000		75,644,000
Stock options using the treasury method									114,000		122,000		136,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)									88,427,000		79,269,000		75,780,000
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 0.15	$ 0.11	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.67		$ 0.47		$ 0.31
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.44	$ 0.16	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.33	$ 0.07	$ 0.13	$ 0.77		$ 0.55		$ 0.23
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.61	$ 0.33	$ 0.15	$ 0.18	$ 0.44	$ 0.17	$ 0.23	$ 1.44		$ 1.02		$ 0.54
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)									300,000		500,000		400,000

[1] There were 0.3 million, 0.5 million and 0.4 million options outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.

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