Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 3,470	$ 3,595
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	617	868
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	1,360	2,209
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	62,542	59,360
Equity:
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
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)	72,399,428	71,690,487
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	72,399,428	71,690,487
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	3,470	3,595
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	617	868
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	1,360	2,209
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	$ 62,542	$ 59,360
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Redeemable Common Units, outstanding (in shares)	3,775,250	3,793,987
Common Units: [Abstract]
General Partner Common Units, outstanding (in shares)	757,659	750,757
Limited Partner Common Units, outstanding (in shares)	71,232,960	70,530,921
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Series A Preferred Units [Member]
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Preferred Units, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000.00	$ 1,000.00
Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	29,087	29,092
Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	29,087	29,092
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Series B Preferred Units [Member]
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Preferred Units, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	0	2,100,000
Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	0	2,100,000
8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Equity:
Preferred stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000.00	$ 1,000.00
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	29,087	29,092
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	29,087	29,092
8.000% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Equity:
Preferred stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	2,100,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	2,100,000