Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per 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
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 148,988	$ 144,827	$ 132,618	$ 130,377	$ 126,316	$ 120,456	$ 120,423	$ 117,851	$ 556,810	$ 485,046	$ 431,956
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
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	31,690	56,068	29,579	13,760	15,609	35,796	14,498	18,332	131,097	84,235	47,971
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(978)	(1,889)	(1,243)	(581)	(688)	(1,653)	(686)	(827)	(4,691)	(3,854)	(2,091)
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)
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
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
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
Continuing Operations Reconciliation To Previous Reported Amounts [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues, as reported		147,294	138,515	137,030	133,982	123,418	126,728	124,894
Discontinued operations		(2,467)	(5,897)	(6,653)	(7,666)	(2,962)	(6,305)	(7,043)
Real estate revenue, net	148,988	144,827	132,618	130,377	126,316	120,456	120,423	117,851	556,810	485,046	431,956
Income from continuing operations, as reported		17,026	16,232	13,135	15,609	10,456	10,963	11,316
Discontinued operations		(418)	(745)	(1,835)	(2,384)	(839)	(2,207)	(2,601)
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
Income from discontinued operations, as reported		39,042	13,347	625	0	25,340	3,535	7,016
Additional discontinued operations from properties sold subsequent to the respective reporting period		418	745	1,835	2,384	839	2,207	2,601
Total discontinued operations	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	2,384	26,179	5,742	9,617	68,374	43,922	17,086
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									(4,691)	(3,854)
Net income available for common stockholders									122,949	77,087	38,677
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	148,988	144,827	132,618	130,377	126,316	120,456	120,423	117,851	556,810	485,046	431,956
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
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	31,690	56,067	29,582	13,707	15,660	35,800	14,501	18,334	131,046	84,295	48,032
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)
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
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
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
Continuing Operations Reconciliation To Previous Reported Amounts [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues, as reported		147,294	138,515	137,030	133,982	123,418	126,728	124,894
Discontinued operations		(2,467)	(5,897)	(6,653)	(7,666)	(2,962)	(6,305)	(7,043)
Real estate revenue, net	148,988	144,827	132,618	130,377	126,316	120,456	120,423	117,851	556,810	485,046	431,956
Income from continuing operations, as reported		17,025	16,235	13,082	15,660	10,460	10,966	11,318
Discontinued operations		(418)	(745)	(1,835)	(2,384)	(839)	(2,207)	(2,601)
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
Income from discontinued operations, as reported		39,042	13,347	625	0	25,340	3,535	7,016
Additional discontinued operations from properties sold subsequent to the respective reporting period		418	745	1,835	2,384	839	2,207	2,601
Total discontinued operations	$ 12,362	$ 39,460	$ 14,092	$ 2,460	$ 2,384	$ 26,179	$ 5,742	$ 9,617	$ 68,374	$ 43,922	$ 17,086