Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 3,581	$ 3,595
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	545	868
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	1,366	2,209
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	60,950	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)	72,579,381	71,690,487
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	72,579,381	71,690,487
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	3,581	3,595
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	545	868
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	1,366	2,209
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	$ 60,950	$ 59,360
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Redeemable Common Units, outstanding (in shares)	3,750,679	3,793,987
Common Units: [Abstract]
General Partner Common Units, outstanding (in shares)	759,213	750,757
Limited Partner Common Units, outstanding (in shares)	71,411,359	70,530,921
8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Equity:
Preferred stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	29,077	29,092
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	29,077	29,092
8.000% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Equity:
Preferred stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	2,100,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	2,100,000
Series A Preferred Units [Member]
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Preferred Units, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	29,077	29,092
Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	29,077	29,092
Series B Preferred Units [Member]
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Preferred Units, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	0	2,100,000
Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	0	2,100,000