Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 388,807	$ 393,602
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,840,379	3,748,869
Development in process	205,971	44,621
Land held for development	79,355	110,374
Total real estate assets	4,514,512	4,297,466
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,033,106)	(985,244)
Net real estate assets	3,481,406	3,312,222
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	1,038	0
Cash and cash equivalents	8,832	10,184
Restricted cash	14,595	14,169
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,314 and $1,648, respectively	48,557	26,430
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $275 and $302, respectively	13,116	26,409
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $600 and $1,063, respectively	142,037	126,014
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	27,071	29,901
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $112,804 and $92,220, respectively	228,768	222,211
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $14,259 and $12,905, respectively	39,489	39,561
Total Assets	4,004,909	3,807,101
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,071,389	1,956,299
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	237,633	218,962
Financing obligations	23,519	26,664
Total Liabilities	2,332,541	2,201,925
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	130,048	106,480
Equity/Capital:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share), 29,060 and 29,077 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	29,060	29,077
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 92,907,310 and 89,920,915 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	929	899
Additional paid-in capital	2,464,275	2,370,368
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(966,141)	(920,433)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,912)	(2,611)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,524,211	1,477,300
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	18,109	21,396
Total Equity/Capital:	1,542,320	1,498,696
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,004,909	3,807,101
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	388,807	393,602
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,840,379	3,748,869
Development in process	205,971	44,621
Land held for development	79,355	110,374
Total real estate assets	4,514,512	4,297,466
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,033,106)	(985,244)
Net real estate assets	3,481,406	3,312,222
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	1,038	0
Cash and cash equivalents	8,938	10,281
Restricted cash	14,595	14,169
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,314 and $1,648, respectively	48,557	26,430
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $275 and $302, respectively	13,116	26,409
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $600 and $1,063, respectively	142,037	126,014
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	27,071	29,901
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $112,804 and $92,220, respectively	228,768	222,211
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $14,259 and $12,905, respectively	39,489	39,561
Total Assets	4,005,015	3,807,198
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,071,389	1,956,299
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	237,547	218,887
Financing obligations	23,519	26,664
Total Liabilities	2,332,455	2,201,850
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,936,955 and 2,943,872 outstanding, respectively	130,048	106,480
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 29,060 and 29,077 units issued and outstanding, respectively	29,060	29,077
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	159,108	135,557
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 954,355 and 924,560 outstanding, respectively	14,990	14,508
Limited partner Common Units, 91,544,146 and 88,587,546 outstanding, respectively	1,484,265	1,436,498
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,912)	(2,611)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	18,109	21,396
Total Equity/Capital:	1,513,452	1,469,791
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,005,015	$ 3,807,198