Share-Based Payments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 4,262,000	$ 3,440,000
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation costs	$ 6,200,000
Weighted average remaining contractual term for recognition of unrecognized stock-based compensation costs (in years)	2 years 8 months 12 days
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options granted	166,081
Weighted average grant date fair value of each stock option granted (in dollars per option)	$ 6.89
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Time-Based Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock shares granted	79,056
Weighted average grant date fair value of each restricted stock granted (in dollars per share)	$ 37.55
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Total Return-Based Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock shares granted	65,770
Weighted average grant date fair value of each restricted stock granted (in dollars per share)	$ 35.24