Document and Entity Information Document	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 21, 2014
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000921082
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		90,121,773
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Entity Central Index Key	0000941713
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes