Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014 sqft acre	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] ATM Equity Offering [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] ATM Equity Offering [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate property (in sq feet)	32,100,000
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties under development (in sq feet)	900,000
Undeveloped land suitable for development (in acres)	600
Common Units of partnership owned by the Company (in shares)			90,000,000
Percentage of ownership of Common Units			96.90%		96.80%
Common Units of partnership not owned by the Company (in shares)								2,900,000
Common Units redeemed for cash (in shares)	2,500
Redemption of Common Units	$ 93	$ 0	$ 93	$ 0				$ 93	$ 0
Common Units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares)	4,417
Number of Common Stock sold during the period (in shares)						50,293	73,877
Average price of Common Stock sold during the period (in dollars per share)						$ 38.38	$ 38.35
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period	$ 8,712	$ 122,490				$ 1,900	$ 2,800