Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 38,088	$ 43,339
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	98,608	84,767
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	234	(198)
Share-based compensation expense	5,381	4,737
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	1,278	380
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(232)	0
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,451	1,897
Amortization of cash flow hedges	1,872	1,588
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	(902)	0
Impairments of real estate assets	588	2,194
(Gains)/losses on debt extinguishment	(18)	164
Net gains on disposition of property	(6,331)	(14,370)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(638)	(1,349)
Changes in financing obligations	(628)	(391)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,216	2,827
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	1,491	2,295
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(4,962)	(2,284)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(10,365)	(8,009)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(11,597)	(661)
Net cash provided by operating activities	114,534	116,926
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	0	(228,461)
Investments in development in process	(69,928)	(11,499)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(54,794)	(42,343)
Investments in building improvements	(28,877)	(26,466)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	8,975	60,381
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	468	435
Investments in mortgages and notes receivable	(234)	(432)
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	16,817	276
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	(6,225)	(429)
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	686	7,853
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(133,112)	(240,685)
Financing activities:
Dividends on Common Stock	(76,605)	(69,563)
Redemptions of Common Units	(93)	0
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,254)	(1,254)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,497)	(3,140)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(940)	(408)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock	11,404	126,738
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Stock	(42)	(1,711)
Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings	(2,650)	(2,537)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	302,100	346,300
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(360,800)	(233,900)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	296,949	0
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(134,648)	(39,610)
Payments on financing obligations	(1,364)	(575)
Additions to deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(2,467)	(242)
Net cash provided by financing activities	27,093	120,098
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	8,515	(3,661)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	10,184	13,783
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	18,699	10,122
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	41,468	40,480
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	(4,250)	6,599
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	162	2,851
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	10,726	12,618
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	16,994	17,732
Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing and leasing costs	13,273	11,363
Unrealized gains on marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan	210	312
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	18,337	9,649
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond	270	299
Receivable related to redemption of investment in unconsolidated affiliate	4,660	0
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Operating activities:
Net income	38,088	43,289
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	98,608	84,767
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	234	(198)
Share-based compensation expense	5,381	4,737
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	1,278	380
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(232)	0
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,451	1,897
Amortization of cash flow hedges	1,872	1,588
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	(902)	0
Impairments of real estate assets	588	2,194
(Gains)/losses on debt extinguishment	(18)	164
Net gains on disposition of property	(6,331)	(14,370)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(638)	(1,299)
Changes in financing obligations	(628)	(391)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,216	2,814
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	1,491	2,295
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(4,892)	(2,189)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(10,365)	(8,009)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(11,568)	(587)
Net cash provided by operating activities	114,633	117,082
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	0	(228,461)
Investments in development in process	(69,928)	(11,499)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(54,794)	(42,343)
Investments in building improvements	(28,877)	(26,466)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	8,975	60,381
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	468	435
Investments in mortgages and notes receivable	(234)	(432)
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	16,817	276
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	(6,225)	(429)
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	686	7,853
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(133,112)	(240,685)
Financing activities:
Distributions on Common Units	(78,754)	(72,355)
Redemptions of Common Units	(93)	0
Distributions on Preferred Units	(1,254)	(1,254)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(940)	(408)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Units	11,404	126,738
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Units	(42)	(1,711)
Repurchase of units related to tax withholdings	(2,650)	(2,537)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	302,100	346,300
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(360,800)	(233,900)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	296,949	0
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(134,648)	(39,610)
Payments on financing obligations	(1,364)	(575)
Additions to deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(2,917)	(747)
Net cash provided by financing activities	26,991	119,941
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	8,512	(3,662)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	10,281	13,867
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	18,793	10,205
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	41,468	40,480
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	(4,250)	6,599
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	10,726	12,618
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	16,994	17,732
Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing and leasing costs	13,273	11,363
Unrealized gains on marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan	210	312
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value	16,725	5,482
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond	270	299
Receivable related to redemption of investment in unconsolidated affiliate	$ 4,660	$ 0