Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 13,576	$ 13,760
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	48,165	42,292
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	82	(136)
Share-based compensation expense	4,262	3,440
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	1,125	426
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(115)	0
Amortization of deferred financing costs	652	949
Amortization of cash flow hedges	928	788
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	(809)	0
Impairments of real estate assets	0	1,128
Losses on debt extinguishment	0	164
Net gains on disposition of property	(384)	(1,244)
Equity in (earnings)/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	29	(436)
Changes in financing obligations	(221)	(105)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	788	1,145
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	713	(1,479)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(5,260)	(2,533)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(6,457)	(5,788)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(25,690)	(10,252)
Net cash provided by operating activities	31,384	42,119
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	0	(88,332)
Investments in development in process	(27,232)	(4,978)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(24,782)	(18,004)
Investments in building improvements	(13,007)	(13,107)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	0	14,971
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	230	363
Investments in mortgages and notes receivable	(108)	0
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	16,604	0
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	0	(429)
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	4,043	10,262
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(44,252)	(99,254)
Financing activities:
Dividends on Common Stock	(38,225)	(34,259)
Redemptions of Common Units	(93)	0
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)	(627)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,249)	(1,584)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(522)	(265)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock	1,313	59,019
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Stock	(14)	(701)
Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings	(1,523)	(2,514)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	96,100	135,900
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(36,800)	(61,400)
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(2,236)	(37,214)
Additions to deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(96)	(833)
Net cash provided by financing activities	16,028	55,522
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,160	(1,613)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	10,184	13,783
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	13,344	12,170
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	25,054	21,887
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	(1,404)	280
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	162	351
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	5,399	5,158
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	3,121	6,467
Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing and leasing costs	3,697	4,872
Unrealized gains on marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan	59	283
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	7,434	23,802
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond	165	390
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Operating activities:
Net income	13,576	13,707
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	48,165	42,292
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	82	(136)
Share-based compensation expense	4,262	3,440
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	1,125	426
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(115)	0
Amortization of deferred financing costs	652	949
Amortization of cash flow hedges	928	788
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	(809)	0
Impairments of real estate assets	0	1,128
Losses on debt extinguishment	0	164
Net gains on disposition of property	(384)	(1,244)
Equity in (earnings)/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	29	(383)
Changes in financing obligations	(221)	(105)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	788	1,139
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	713	(1,479)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(5,226)	(2,391)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(6,457)	(5,788)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(25,667)	(10,155)
Net cash provided by operating activities	31,441	42,352
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	0	(88,332)
Investments in development in process	(27,232)	(4,978)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(24,782)	(18,004)
Investments in building improvements	(13,007)	(13,107)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	0	14,971
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	230	363
Investments in mortgages and notes receivable	(108)	0
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	16,604	0
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	0	(429)
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	4,043	10,262
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(44,252)	(99,254)
Financing activities:
Distributions on Common Units	(39,300)	(35,669)
Redemptions of Common Units	(93)	0
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)	(627)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(522)	(265)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Units	1,313	59,019
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Units	(14)	(701)
Repurchase of units related to tax withholdings	(1,523)	(2,514)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	96,100	135,900
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(36,800)	(61,400)
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(2,236)	(37,214)
Additions to deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(338)	(1,240)
Net cash provided by financing activities	15,960	55,289
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,149	(1,613)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	10,281	13,867
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	13,430	12,254
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	25,054	21,887
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	(1,404)	280
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	5,399	5,158
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	3,121	6,467
Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing and leasing costs	3,697	4,872
Unrealized gains on marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan	59	283
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value	6,328	22,448
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond	$ 165	$ 390