Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 400,850	$ 388,807
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,941,463	3,840,379
Development in process	133,688	205,971
Land held for development	75,888	79,355
Total real estate assets	4,551,889	4,514,512
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,056,028)	(1,033,106)
Net real estate assets	3,495,861	3,481,406
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	2,980	1,038
Cash and cash equivalents	11,381	8,832
Restricted cash	11,852	14,595
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,647 and $1,314, respectively	28,385	48,557
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $468 and $275, respectively	14,137	13,116
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $530 and $600, respectively	147,597	142,037
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	27,056	27,071
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $115,342 and $112,804, respectively	224,270	228,768
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $14,770 and $14,259, respectively	46,297	39,489
Total Assets	4,009,816	4,004,909
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,089,226	2,071,389
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	203,001	237,633
Financing obligations	23,519	23,519
Total Liabilities	2,315,746	2,332,541
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	133,226	130,048
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; 29,050 and 29,060 shares issued and outstanding, respectively)	29,050	29,060
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 94,047,118 and 92,907,310 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	940	929
Additional paid-in capital	2,504,867	2,464,275
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(986,388)	(966,141)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,709)	(3,912)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,542,760	1,524,211
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	18,084	18,109
Total Equity/Captal	1,560,844	1,542,320
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,009,816	4,004,909
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	400,850	388,807
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,941,463	3,840,379
Development in process	133,688	205,971
Land held for development	75,888	79,355
Total real estate assets	4,551,889	4,514,512
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,056,028)	(1,033,106)
Net real estate assets	3,495,861	3,481,406
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	2,980	1,038
Cash and cash equivalents	11,381	8,938
Restricted cash	11,852	14,595
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,647 and $1,314, respectively	28,385	48,557
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $468 and $275, respectively	14,137	13,116
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $530 and $600, respectively	147,597	142,037
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	27,056	27,071
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $115,342 and $112,804, respectively	224,270	228,768
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $14,770 and $14,259, respectively	46,297	39,489
Total Assets	4,009,816	4,005,015
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,089,226	2,071,389
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	203,001	237,547
Financing obligations	23,519	23,519
Total Liabilities	2,315,746	2,332,455
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,910,135 and 2,936,955 outstanding, respectively	133,226	130,048
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 29,050 and 29,060 units issued and outstanding, respectively	29,050	29,060
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	162,276	159,108
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 965,484 and 954,355 outstanding, respectively	15,192	14,990
Limited partner Common Units, 92,672,825 and 91,544,146 outstanding, respectively	1,504,227	1,484,265
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,709)	(3,912)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	18,084	18,109
Total Equity/Captal	1,531,794	1,513,452
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,009,816	$ 4,005,015