Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 1,647	$ 1,314
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	468	275
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	530	600
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	115,342	112,804
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	14,770	14,259
Equity/Capital:
Series A Preferred Stock, dividend rate percentage (in hundredths)	8.625%	8.625%
Series A Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series A Preferred Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
Series A Preferred Stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Stock, shares issued (in shares)	29,050	29,060
Series A Preferred Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	29,050	29,060
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued (in shares)	94,047,118	92,907,310
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	94,047,118	92,907,310
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	1,647	1,314
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	468	275
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	530	600
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	115,342	112,804
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	$ 14,770	$ 14,259
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units: [Abstract]
Redeemable Common Units outstanding (in shares)	2,910,135	2,936,955
Series A Preferred Units, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	29,050	29,060
Series A Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	29,050	29,060
Common Units: [Abstract]
General partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	965,484	954,355
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	92,672,825	91,544,146