Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Rental and other revenues		$ 161,136	$ 152,722	$ 318,446	$ 301,175
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses		57,278	55,275	114,791	111,665
Depreciation and amortization		51,240	50,443	101,548	98,608
Impairments of real estate assets		0	588	0	588
General and administrative		8,892	8,733	20,329	19,447
Total operating expenses		117,410	115,039	236,668	230,308
Interest expense:
Contractual		20,857	20,640	41,299	41,390
Amortization of deferred financing costs		828	799	1,628	1,451
Financing obligation		317	(226)	498	(266)
Total interest expense		22,002	21,213	43,425	42,575
Other income:
Interest and other income		1,199	1,410	2,437	2,809
Gains/(losses) on debt extinguishment		(220)	18	(220)	18
Total other income		979	1,428	2,217	2,827
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates		22,703	17,898	40,570	31,119
Gains on disposition of property		2,412	5,947	3,569	5,947
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		1,776	667	3,587	638
Income from continuing operations		26,891	24,512	47,726	37,704
Discontinued operations:
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations		0	0	0	384
Total discontinued operations		0	0	0	384
Net income		26,891	24,512	47,726	38,088
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(782)	(742)	(1,378)	(1,140)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(328)	(438)	(624)	(861)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(626)	(627)	(1,253)	(1,254)
Net income available for common stockholders		$ 25,155	$ 22,705	$ 44,471	$ 34,833
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.47	$ 0.38
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.47	$ 0.39
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)		94,055	90,254	93,641	90,111
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.47	$ 0.38
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.47	$ 0.39
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	[1],[2]	97,049	93,312	96,666	93,172
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.425	$ 0.425	$ 0.850	$ 0.850
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders		$ 25,155	$ 22,705	$ 44,471	$ 34,461
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders		0	0	0	372
Net income available for common stockholders		25,155	22,705	44,471	34,833
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues		161,136	152,722	318,446	301,175
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses		57,278	55,258	114,791	111,632
Depreciation and amortization		51,240	50,443	101,548	98,608
Impairments of real estate assets		0	588	0	588
General and administrative		8,892	8,750	20,329	19,480
Total operating expenses		117,410	115,039	236,668	230,308
Interest expense:
Contractual		20,857	20,640	41,299	41,390
Amortization of deferred financing costs		828	799	1,628	1,451
Financing obligation		317	(226)	498	(266)
Total interest expense		22,002	21,213	43,425	42,575
Other income:
Interest and other income		1,199	1,410	2,437	2,809
Gains/(losses) on debt extinguishment		(220)	18	(220)	18
Total other income		979	1,428	2,217	2,827
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates		22,703	17,898	40,570	31,119
Gains on disposition of property		2,412	5,947	3,569	5,947
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		1,776	667	3,587	638
Income from continuing operations		26,891	24,512	47,726	37,704
Discontinued operations:
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations		0	0	0	384
Total discontinued operations		0	0	0	384
Net income		26,891	24,512	47,726	38,088
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(328)	(438)	(624)	(861)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(626)	(627)	(1,253)	(1,254)
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 25,937	$ 23,447	$ 45,849	$ 35,973
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.48	$ 0.38
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.48	$ 0.39
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)		96,556	92,782	96,153	92,640
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.48	$ 0.38
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.48	$ 0.39
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	[3],[4]	96,640	92,903	96,257	92,763
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)		$ 0.425	$ 0.425	$ 0.850	$ 0.850
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		$ 25,937	$ 23,447	$ 45,849	$ 35,589
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	0	0	384
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 25,937	$ 23,447	$ 45,849	$ 35,973

[1] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

[2] There were 0.2 million options outstanding during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and the six months ended June 30, 2014 that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive. There were no such options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2014.

[3] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

[4] There were 0.2 million options outstanding during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and the six months ended June 30, 2014 that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per unit because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive. There were no such options outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2014.