Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 369,771	$ 345,088
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,144,168	2,883,092
Development in process	0	4,524
Land held for development	105,206	105,332
Total real estate assets	3,619,145	3,338,036
Less-accumulated depreciation	(901,300)	(830,153)
Net real estate assets	2,717,845	2,507,883
For-sale residential condominiums	4,751	8,225
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	15,376
Cash and cash equivalents	11,188	14,206
Restricted cash	26,666	4,399
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,548 and $3,595, respectively	30,093	20,716
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $61 and $868, respectively	18,600	19,044
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,294 and $2,209, respectively	106,010	93,178
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	100,367	63,607
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $63,156 and $59,360, respectively	128,585	85,001
Prepaid expenses and other assets	36,887	40,200
Total Assets	3,180,992	2,871,835
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	1,903,213	1,522,945
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	148,821	106,716
Financing obligations	31,444	33,114
Total Liabilities	2,083,478	1,662,775
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	110,655	120,838
Equity:
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 72,647,697 and 71,690,487 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	726	717
Additional paid-in capital	1,803,997	1,766,886
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(845,853)	(761,785)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,734)	(3,648)
Total Stockholders' Equity	982,213	1,083,762
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,646	4,460
Total Equity	986,859	1,088,222
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	3,180,992	2,871,835
8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Equity:
Preferred Stock	29,077	29,092
8.000% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Equity:
Preferred Stock	0	52,500
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	369,771	345,088
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,144,168	2,883,092
Development in process	0	4,524
Land held for development	105,206	105,332
Total real estate assets	3,619,145	3,338,036
Less-accumulated depreciation	(901,300)	(830,153)
Net real estate assets	2,717,845	2,507,883
For-sale residential condominiums	4,751	8,225
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	15,376
Cash and cash equivalents	11,151	14,198
Restricted cash	26,666	4,399
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,548 and $3,595, respectively	30,093	20,716
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $61 and $868, respectively	18,600	19,044
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,294 and $2,209, respectively	106,010	93,178
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	99,296	62,451
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $63,156 and $59,360, respectively	128,585	85,001
Prepaid expenses and other assets	36,887	40,200
Total Assets	3,179,884	2,870,671
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	1,903,213	1,522,945
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	148,821	106,716
Financing obligations	31,444	33,114
Total Liabilities	2,083,478	1,662,775
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 3,729,518 and 3,793,987 outstanding, respectively	110,655	120,838
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	139,732	202,430
Equity:
General partner Common Units, 759,684 and 750,757 outstanding, respectively	9,575	10,044
Limited partner Common Units, 71,479,204 and 70,530,921 outstanding, respectively	948,187	994,610
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,734)	(3,648)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,646	4,460
Total Equity	956,674	1,005,466
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	3,179,884	2,870,671
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Series A Preferred Units [Member]
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Preferred Units	29,077	29,092
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Series B Preferred Units [Member]
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Preferred Units	$ 0	$ 52,500