Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,164,893	$ 1,135,033	$ 803	$ 29,077	$ 11,427	$ 1,131,481	$ 2,040,306	$ (12,628)	$ (12,628)	$ 4,753	$ 4,753	$ (897,418)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			80,311,437
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of units redeemed for tax withholdings		55,804			558	55,246			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(35,669)			(356)	(35,313)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(627)			(6)	(621)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			1,664,519
Issuances of Common Stock, net of shares redeemed for tax withholdings	55,804		17	0			55,787	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			10,071
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	351		0	0			351	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(34,259)		0	0			0	0		0		(34,259)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		0	0			0	0		0		(627)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(23,802)		0	0			(23,802)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(265)	(265)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(265)	(265)	0
Issuances of restricted stock -shares			144,566
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	3,440	3,440	1	0	34	3,406	3,439	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(22,854)			(229)	(22,625)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(581)		0	0			0	0		0		(581)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(2)	(201)	0	0	0	203	203	(203)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	13,760	13,707	0	0	137	13,570	0	0	0	0	0	13,760
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	1,458	1,458	0	0	0	0	0	1,458	1,458	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	15,218	15,165
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	1,180,172	1,150,027	821	29,077	11,563	1,144,943	2,076,081	(11,170)	(11,170)	4,691	4,691	(919,328)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2013			82,130,593
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,498,696	1,469,791	899	29,077	14,508	1,436,498	2,370,368	(2,611)	(2,611)	21,396	21,396	(920,433)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	89,920,915		89,920,915
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of units redeemed for tax withholdings		153			2	151			0		0
Redemptions of Common Units		(93)			(1)	(92)			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(39,300)			(393)	(38,907)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(627)			(6)	(621)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			(8,427)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of shares redeemed for tax withholdings	153		0	0			153	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			4,417
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	162		0	0			162	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(38,225)		0	0			0	0		0		(38,225)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		0	0			0	0		0		(627)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(7,434)		0	0			(7,434)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(522)	(522)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(522)	(522)	0
Issuances of restricted stock -shares			144,826
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - Shares			0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,262	4,262	2	0	43	4,219	4,260	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(6,570)			(66)	(6,504)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(398)		0	0			0	0		0		(398)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(4)	(419)	0	0	0	423	423	(423)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	13,576	13,576	0	0	136	13,440	0	0	0	0	0	13,576
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(311)	(311)	0	0	0	0	0	(311)	(311)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	13,265	13,265
Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	$ 1,469,332	$ 1,440,359	$ 901	$ 29,077	$ 14,219	$ 1,407,765	$ 2,367,509	$ (2,922)	$ (2,922)	$ 21,297	$ 21,297	$ (946,530)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014	90,061,731		90,061,731