Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 1,060,424	$ 977,521	$ 636	$ 29,092	$ 52,500	$ 9,759	$ 966,378	$ 1,616,093	$ (4,792)	$ (4,792)	$ 6,176	$ 6,176	$ (639,281)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008			63,571,705
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		150,941				1,509	149,432			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(120,566)				(1,206)	(119,360)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(6,708)				(67)	(6,641)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			7,296,816
Issuances of Common Stock, net	150,941		73	0	0			150,868	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			176,042
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	5,591		2	0	0			5,589	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(114,429)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(114,429)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(6,708)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(6,708)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(27,717)		0	0	0			(27,717)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,004)	(1,004)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(1,004)	(1,004)	0
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate	0	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			240,740
Issuances of restricted stock, net	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense	6,567	6,567	2	0	0	66	6,501	6,565	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(19,187)				(192)	(18,995)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,197)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(3,197)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	0	(11)	0	0	0	11	11	(11)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	61,694	61,640	0	0	0	616	61,024	0	0	0	0	0	61,694
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	981	981	0	0	0	0	0	0	981	981	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	62,675	62,621
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	1,133,143	1,050,185	713	29,092	52,500	10,485	1,038,328	1,751,398	(3,811)	(3,811)	5,183	5,183	(701,932)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			71,285,303
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		2,998				30	2,968			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(127,417)				(1,274)	(126,143)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(6,708)				(67)	(6,641)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			143,907
Issuances of Common Stock, net	2,998		1	0	0			2,997	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			97,134
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	3,061		1	0	0			3,060	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(121,643)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(121,643)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(6,708)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(6,708)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	2,721		0	0	0			2,721	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(568)	(568)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(568)	(568)	0
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate	(500)	(500)	0	0	0	1	139	140	0	0	(640)	(640)	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			164,143
Issuances of restricted stock, net	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense	6,572	6,572	2	0	0	66	6,506	6,570	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		8,465				85	8,380			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,320)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(3,320)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(5)	(480)	0	0	0	485	485	(485)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	72,303	72,276	0	0	0	723	71,553	0	0	0	0	0	72,303
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	163	163	0	0	0	0	0	0	163	163	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	72,466	72,439
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	1,088,222	1,005,466	717	29,092	52,500	10,044	994,610	1,766,886	(3,648)	(3,648)	4,460	4,460	(761,785)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	71,690,487		71,690,487
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		23,270				233	23,037			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(128,463)				(1,285)	(127,178)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(4,553)				(46)	(4,507)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			758,389
Issuances of Common Stock, net	23,270		8	0	0			23,262	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			64,469
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock	1,906		0	0	0			1,906	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(122,745)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(122,745)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(4,553)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(4,553)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	3,955		0	0	0			3,955	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(569)	(569)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(569)	(569)	0
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate	0	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			134,352
Issuances of restricted stock, net	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(52,515)		0	(15)	(52,500)			1,895	0		0		(1,895)
Share-based compensation expense	6,094	6,094	1	0	0	61	6,033	6,093	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		9,483				96	9,387			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,091)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(2,091)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(8)	(747)	0	0	0	755	755	(755)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	47,971	48,032	0	0	0	480	47,552	0	0	0	0	0	47,971
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(2,086)	(2,086)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(2,086)	(2,086)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	45,885	45,946
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 986,859	$ 956,674	$ 726	$ 29,077	$ 0	$ 9,575	$ 948,187	$ 1,803,997	$ (5,734)	$ (5,734)	$ 4,646	$ 4,646	$ (845,853)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	72,647,697		72,647,697