Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 10,144	[1]	$ 26,485	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			301
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,869		3,996
Impaired real estate assets	4,922
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	13,673		13,403
Total Assets	32,608		44,185
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	2,152,505	[1]	2,037,385	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,744		510
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,869		3,996
Financing obligations, at fair value	22,466	[1]	22,478	[1]
Total Liabilities	2,181,584		2,064,369
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,869		3,996
Impaired real estate assets	0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Total Assets	3,869		3,996
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,869		3,996
Financing obligations, at fair value	0		0
Total Liabilities	3,869		3,996
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	239		17,029
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			301
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Impaired real estate assets	0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Total Assets	239		17,330
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	2,152,505		2,037,385
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,744		510
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	0		0
Total Liabilities	2,155,249		2,037,895
Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	9,905		9,456
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Impaired real estate assets	4,922
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	13,673		13,403
Total Assets	28,500		22,859
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	22,466		22,478
Total Liabilities	22,466		22,478
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	123,205		106,480
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	123,205		106,480
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	0		0
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0		$ 0

[1] Amounts recorded at historical cost on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.