Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 20,835	$ 13,576
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	50,308	48,165
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(67)	82
Share-based compensation expense	3,866	4,262
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	417	1,125
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(170)	(115)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	800	652
Amortization of cash flow hedges	924	928
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	57	(809)
Net gains on disposition of property	(1,157)	(384)
Equity in (earnings)/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(1,811)	29
Changes in financing obligations	0	(221)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,386	788
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	3,166	713
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(6,769)	(5,260)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(5,591)	(6,457)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(33,088)	(25,690)
Net cash provided by operating activities	33,106	31,384
Investing activities:
Investments in development in process	(11,232)	(27,232)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(30,008)	(24,782)
Investments in building improvements	(12,081)	(13,007)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	5,650	0
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	394	230
Investments in mortgages and notes receivable	(938)	(108)
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	87	16,604
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	993	4,043
Net cash used in investing activities	(47,135)	(44,252)
Financing activities:
Dividends on Common Stock	(39,563)	(38,225)
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(10)	0
Redemptions of Common Units	0	(93)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)	(627)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,248)	(1,249)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(321)	(522)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock	44,937	1,313
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Stock	(643)	(14)
Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings	(3,727)	(1,523)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	110,900	96,100
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(91,900)	(36,800)
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(1,220)	(2,236)
Additions to deferred financing costs and other financing activities	0	(96)
Net cash provided by financing activities	16,578	16,028
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	2,549	3,160
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	8,832	10,184
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	11,381	13,344
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	21,480	25,054
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	(2,914)	(1,404)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	1,206	162
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	(2,697)	5,399
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	15,020	3,121
Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing and leasing costs	10,147	3,697
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	5,036	7,434
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond	193	165
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Operating activities:
Net income	20,835	13,576
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	50,308	48,165
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(67)	82
Share-based compensation expense	3,866	4,262
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	417	1,125
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(170)	(115)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	800	652
Amortization of cash flow hedges	924	928
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	57	(809)
Net gains on disposition of property	(1,157)	(384)
Equity in (earnings)/losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(1,811)	29
Changes in financing obligations	0	(221)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,386	788
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	3,166	713
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(6,769)	(5,226)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(5,591)	(6,457)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(33,002)	(25,667)
Net cash provided by operating activities	33,192	31,441
Investing activities:
Investments in development in process	(11,232)	(27,232)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(30,008)	(24,782)
Investments in building improvements	(12,081)	(13,007)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	5,650	0
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	394	230
Investments in mortgages and notes receivable	(938)	(108)
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	87	16,604
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	993	4,043
Net cash used in investing activities	(47,135)	(44,252)
Financing activities:
Distributions on Common Units	(40,637)	(39,300)
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Units	(10)	0
Redemptions of Common Units	0	(93)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)	(627)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(321)	(522)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Units	44,937	1,313
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Units	(643)	(14)
Repurchase of units related to tax withholdings	(3,727)	(1,523)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	110,900	96,100
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(91,900)	(36,800)
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(1,220)	(2,236)
Additions to deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(366)	(338)
Net cash provided by financing activities	16,386	15,960
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	2,443	3,149
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	8,938	10,281
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	11,381	13,430
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	21,480	25,054
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	(2,914)	(1,404)
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	(2,697)	5,399
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	15,020	3,121
Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing and leasing costs	10,147	3,697
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value	3,178	6,328
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond	$ 193	$ 165