Earnings Per Share/Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 13,192		$ 11,300
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(386)		(472)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(423)		(203)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	11,756		9,998
Income from discontinued operations	384		2,460
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	(12)		(109)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	372		2,351
Net income available for common stockholders	12,128		12,349
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	89,966,000	[1],[2]	81,029,000	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.12
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.03
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.15
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	13,192		11,300
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(423)		(203)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	12,142		10,470
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	384		2,460
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	12,526		12,930
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	89,966,000	[1],[2]	81,029,000	[1],[2]
Stock options using the treasury method	124,000		108,000
Noncontrolling interests Common Units	2,940,000		3,725,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares) (1)	93,030,000	[1],[2]	84,862,000	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.12
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.03
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.15
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)	300,000		500,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	13,192		11,247
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(423)		(203)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	12,142		10,417
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	384		2,460
Net income available for common unitholders	12,526		12,877
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	92,497,000	[2],[3]	84,345,000	[2],[3]
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.12
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.03
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14		$ 0.15
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	13,192		11,247
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(423)		(203)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	12,142		10,417
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	384		2,460
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 12,526		$ 12,877
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	92,497,000	[2],[3]	84,345,000	[2],[3]
Stock options using the treasury method	124,000		108,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	92,621,000	[2],[3]	84,453,000	[2],[3]
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.12
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.03
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14		$ 0.15
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)	300,000		500,000

[1] There were 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.

[2] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

[3] There were 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per unit because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.