Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 394,233	$ 393,602
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,782,607	3,748,869
Development in process	69,527	44,621
Land held for development	111,444	110,374
Total real estate assets	4,357,811	4,297,466
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,019,931)	(985,244)
Net real estate assets	3,337,880	3,312,222
Cash and cash equivalents	13,344	10,184
Restricted cash	9,140	14,169
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,412 and $1,648, respectively	24,661	26,430
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $300 and $302, respectively	10,028	26,409
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,118 and $1,063, respectively	132,038	126,014
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	28,836	29,901
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $100,639 and $92,220, respectively	218,831	222,211
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $13,186 and $12,905, respectively	45,235	39,561
Total Assets	3,819,993	3,807,101
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,012,554	1,956,299
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	198,856	218,962
Financing obligations	26,443	26,664
Total Liabilities	2,237,853	2,201,925
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	112,808	106,480
Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share; 29,077 shares issued and outstanding)	29,077	29,077
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 90,061,731 and 89,920,915 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	901	899
Additional paid-in capital	2,367,509	2,370,368
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(946,530)	(920,433)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,922)	(2,611)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,448,035	1,477,300
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	21,297	21,396
Total Equity	1,469,332	1,498,696
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	3,819,993	3,807,101
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	394,233	393,602
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,782,607	3,748,869
Development in process	69,527	44,621
Land held for development	111,444	110,374
Total real estate assets	4,357,811	4,297,466
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,019,931)	(985,244)
Net real estate assets	3,337,880	3,312,222
Cash and cash equivalents	13,430	10,281
Restricted cash	9,140	14,169
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,412 and $1,648, respectively	24,661	26,430
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $300 and $302, respectively	10,028	26,409
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,118 and $1,063, respectively	132,038	126,014
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	28,836	29,901
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $100,639 and $92,220, respectively	218,831	222,211
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $13,186 and $12,905, respectively	45,201	39,561
Total Assets	3,820,045	3,807,198
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,012,554	1,956,299
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	198,804	218,887
Financing obligations	26,443	26,664
Total Liabilities	2,237,801	2,201,850
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,936,955 and 2,943,872 outstanding, respectively	112,808	106,480
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 29,077 units issued and outstanding	29,077	29,077
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	141,885	135,557
Equity:
General partner Common Units, 925,899 and 924,560 outstanding, respectively	14,219	14,508
Limited partner Common Units, 88,727,023 and 88,587,546 outstanding, respectively	1,407,765	1,436,498
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,922)	(2,611)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	21,297	21,396
Total Equity	1,440,359	1,469,791
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	$ 3,820,045	$ 3,807,198