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, 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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		153			2	151			0		0
Redemptions of Common Units		(93)			(1)	(92)			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(39,300)			(393)	(38,907)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(627)			(6)	(621)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			(8,427)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	153		0	0			153	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	(38,225)		0	0			0	0		0		(38,225)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		0	0			0	0		0		(627)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(7,434)		0	0			(7,434)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(522)	(522)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(522)	(522)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			144,826
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,262	4,262	2	0	43	4,219	4,260	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(6,570)			(66)	(6,504)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(398)		0	0			0	0		0		(398)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(4)	(419)	0	0	0	423	423	(423)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	13,576	13,576	0	0	136	13,440	0	0	0	0	0	13,576
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(311)	(311)	0	0	0	0	0	(311)	(311)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	13,265	13,265
Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	1,469,332	1,440,359	901	29,077	14,219	1,407,765	2,367,509	(2,922)	(2,922)	21,297	21,297	(946,530)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014			90,061,731
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,542,320	1,513,452	929	29,060	14,990	1,484,265	2,464,275	(3,912)	(3,912)	18,109	18,109	(966,141)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	92,907,310		92,907,310
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		40,567			406	40,161			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(40,637)			(406)	(40,231)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(627)			(6)	(621)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			989,417
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	40,567		10	0			40,557	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			26,820
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	1,206		0	0			1,206	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(39,563)		0	0			0	0		0		(39,563)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		0	0			0	0		0		(627)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(5,036)		0	0			(5,036)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(321)	(321)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(321)	(321)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			123,571
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(10)		0	(10)			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	3,866	3,866	1	0	39	3,827	3,865	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(3,544)			(36)	(3,508)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(596)		0	0			0	0		0		(596)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(3)	(293)	0	0	0	296	296	(296)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	20,835	20,835	0	0	208	20,627	0	0	0	0	0	20,835
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(1,797)	(1,797)	0	0	0	0	0	(1,797)	(1,797)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	19,038	19,038
Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	$ 1,560,844	$ 1,531,794	$ 940	$ 29,050	$ 15,192	$ 1,504,227	$ 2,504,867	$ (5,709)	$ (5,709)	$ 18,084	$ 18,084	$ (986,388)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2015	94,047,118		94,047,118