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		122,490			1,225	121,265			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(72,355)			(724)	(71,631)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,254)			(13)	(1,241)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			3,434,687
Issuances of Common Stock, net of shares redeemed for tax withholdings	122,490		34	0			122,456	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			72,471
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	2,851		0	0			2,851	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(69,563)		0	0			0	0		0		(69,563)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,254)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,254)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(9,649)		0	0			(9,649)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(408)	(408)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(408)	(408)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			151,630
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - Shares			(1,813)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,737	4,737	3	0	47	4,690	4,734	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(5,986)			(59)	(5,927)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,824)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,824)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(4)	(386)	0	0	0	390	390	(390)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	43,339	43,289	0	0	433	42,856	0	0	0	0	0	43,339
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	8,486	8,486	0	0	0	0	0	8,486	8,486	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	51,825	51,775
Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	1,264,098	1,234,032	840	29,077	12,332	1,221,107	2,160,698	(4,142)	(4,142)	4,735	4,735	(927,110)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2013			83,968,412
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,243)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	29,579	29,582
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	7,028	7,028
Total comprehensive income	36,607	36,610
Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	1,264,098	1,234,032
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		8,712			87	8,625			0		0
Redemptions of Common Units		(93)			(1)	(92)			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(78,754)			(788)	(77,966)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,254)			(13)	(1,241)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			281,992
Issuances of Common Stock, net of shares redeemed for tax withholdings	8,712		3	0			8,709	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	(76,605)		0	0			0	0		0		(76,605)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,254)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,254)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(18,337)		0	0			(18,337)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(940)	(940)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(940)	(940)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			154,383
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	5,381	5,381	2	0	54	5,327	5,379	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(17,175)			(171)	(17,004)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,140)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,140)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(9)	(852)	0	0	0	861	861	(861)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	38,088	38,088	0	0	381	37,707	0	0	0	0	0	38,088
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(2,108)	(2,108)	0	0	0	0	0	(2,108)	(2,108)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	35,980	35,980
Balance at Jun. 30, 2014	1,450,655	1,421,648	904	29,077	14,048	1,391,002	2,366,281	(4,719)	(4,719)	21,317	21,317	(962,205)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2014	90,361,707		90,361,707
Balance at Mar. 31, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(742)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	24,512	24,512
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(1,797)	(1,797)
Total comprehensive income	22,715	22,715
Balance at Jun. 30, 2014	$ 1,450,655	$ 1,421,648
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2014	90,361,707