Investments In and Advances To Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended							3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Concourse Center Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Plaza Colonnade, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Lofts at Weston, LLC Joint Venture [Member] acre	Dec. 31, 2011 Board of Trade Investment Company Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods KC Glenridge Office, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods KC Glenridge Land, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 HIW-KC Orlando, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kessinger/Hunter, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Kessinger/Hunter, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Kessinger/Hunter, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods DLF Forum, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 4600 Madison Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Des Moines, IA Joint Ventures [Member] sqft	Dec. 31, 2011 HIW Development B Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods-Markel Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 SF-Harborview Plaza, LP Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Plaza Residential, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Plaza Residential, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Plaza Residential, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Real estate assets, net	$ 536,088,000		$ 580,257,000
All other assets, net	96,944,000		92,423,000
Total Assets	633,032,000		672,680,000
Liabilities and Partners' or Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable	406,875,000		424,818,000
All other liabilities	21,808,000		26,267,000
Partners' or shareholders' equity	204,349,000		221,595,000
Total Liabilities and Partners' or Shareholders' Equity	633,032,000		672,680,000
Our share of historical partners' or shareholders' equity	59,584,000		61,022,000
Advances to unconsolidated affiliate	38,323,000		0
Net excess of cost of investments over the net book value of underlying net assets	2,460,000	[1]	2,585,000	[1]
Carrying value of investments in unconsolidated affiliates	100,367,000		63,607,000
Our share of unconsolidated non-recourse mortgage debt	146,926,000	[2]	150,698,000	[2]
Scheduled future principal payments [Abstract]
Scheduled future principal payments within one year	31,101,000
Scheduled future principal payments, year two	23,250,000
Scheduled future principal payments, year three	56,737,000
Scheduled future principal payments, year four	983,000
Scheduled future principal payments, year five	1,052,000
Scheduled future principal payments, thereafter	33,803,000
Total scheduled future principal payments	146,926,000	[2]	150,698,000	[2]
Income Statements:
Rental and other revenues	100,958,000		119,868,000		149,856,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	44,584,000		56,868,000		72,344,000
Depreciation and amortization	26,430,000		31,401,000		35,537,000
Interest expense	23,762,000		27,956,000		35,245,000
Total expenses	94,776,000		116,225,000		143,126,000
Income before disposition of properties	6,182,000		3,643,000		6,730,000
Gains on disposition of properties	0		0		2,963,000			300,000												3,400,000
Net income	6,182,000		3,643,000		9,693,000
Our share of:
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets	8,388,000		10,471,000		12,839,000
Interest expense	8,163,000		10,545,000		14,074,000
Net gain on disposition of depreciable properties	0		0		582,000															800,000
Net income	2,429,000		1,466,000		2,889,000
Our share of net income	2,429,000		1,466,000		2,889,000
Purchase accounting and management, leasing and other fees adjustments	2,449,000		2,355,000		2,532,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	4,878,000		3,821,000		5,421,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%					50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	49.00%		42.93%	40.00%	40.00%	40.00%	26.50%			25.00%	22.81%		12.50%		10.00%
Contribution of land (in acres)								15.0
Gross proceeds from disposition of property										7,100,000										14,800,000		15,000,000	4,800,000
Net gain on disposition of property	0		0		2,963,000			300,000												3,400,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property	0		0		582,000															800,000
Impairment of assets in discontinued operations										500,000
Our proportionate share of impairment of assets in discontinued operations										200,000
Amount of related party transaction															2,100,000	800,000	500,000
Advances to Affiliates loan amount																			38,300,000
Loan maturity date																			Mar. 31, 2012
Current interest rate																			LIBOR plus 500 basis points
Interest rate reduction amount																			50 basis points
Square footage of real estate office property (in sq feet)																						1,700,000
Square footage of real estate industrial property (in sq feet)																						788,000
Square footage of real estate retail property (in sq feet)																						45,000
Rental residential units (in units)	96							215														418						139
Gain on disposition of investment of unconsolidated affiliate	2,282,000		25,330,000		0																	25,300,000	2,300,000
Contribution of property to unconsolidated affiliate								2,400,000
Payments to acquire interest in joint venture by partner								1,200,000
Distribution by joint venture for land contribution								1,200,000
Total cost to construct rental residential units								25,900,000
Development, management and leasing fees revenue	3,100,000		2,700,000		2,100,000
Percentage of equity interest in consolidated affiliates																								50.00%	20.00%			93.00%
Liquidation date for the sale of assets																								December 31, 2100
Fair value of noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliate																								14,800,000
Joint venture partner's interest in consolidated affiliates	50.00%																									7.00%
Acquisition amount of joint venture partner's interest in consolidated affiliate																										500,000
Gross proceeds received from disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliate																										5,300,000	3,200,000	13,000,000
Cost of assets sold from condominium sales recorded																										5,000,000	3,500,000	12,100,000
Interest income from loan to affiliate																			1,300,000
Receivables from management and leasing fees	$ 1,000,000		$ 600,000

[1] This amount represents the aggregate difference between our historical cost basis and the basis reflected at the joint venture level, which is typically depreciated over the life of the related asset.

[2] Our share of scheduled future principal payments, including amortization, due on mortgages and notes payable at December 31, 2011 is as follows:2012 (a)$31,101201323,250201456,737201598320161,052Thereafter33,803 $146,926(a) Includes our 22.81% portion of a $38.3 million interest-only secured loan provided by us to the DLF I joint venture.All of this joint venture debt is non-recourse to us except in the case of customary exceptions pertaining to such matters as misuse of funds, environmental conditions and material misrepresentations.