Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Minimum dividend required to maintain REIT status	$ 1.08	$ 1.07	$ 1.01
Tax basis of assets	3,400,000,000	2,900,000,000
Tax basis of liabilities	2,100,000,000	2,000,000,000
Deferred tax asset for cumulative tax loss carryforwards		2,100,000
Net deferred tax liabilities	1,800,000	2,200,000
Income tax expense incurred by taxable REIT subsidiary	2,100,000
Taxes incurred by taxable REIT subsidiary related to disposition	1,700,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Tax basis of assets	3,400,000,000	2,900,000,000
Tax basis of liabilities	$ 2,100,000,000	$ 2,000,000,000