Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Rental and other revenues	$ 128,214		$ 117,265		$ 382,120		$ 339,497
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	47,233		44,031		138,132		122,358
Depreciation and amortization	38,651		35,051		115,755		99,659
Impairments of real estate assets	0		2,429		0		2,429
General and administrative	9,725		12,212		28,298		27,983
Total operating expenses	95,609		93,723		282,185		252,429
Interest expense:
Contractual	22,910		23,264		70,309		68,444
Amortization of deferred financing costs	907		806		2,709		2,448
Financing obligations	(205)		201		(357)		584
Total interest expense	23,612		24,271		72,661		71,476
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,916		1,505		5,883		5,277
Losses on debt extinguishment	0		0		(973)		(24)
Total other income	1,916		1,505		4,910		5,253
Income from continuing operations before disposition of property, condominiums and investments in unconsolidated affiliates and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	10,909		776		32,184		20,845
Gains on disposition of property	0		262		0		462
Gains/(losses) on for-sale residential condominiums	80		(476)		255		(322)
Gains on disposition of investments in unconsolidated affiliates	0		2,282		0		2,282
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	1,324		1,113		2,670		3,933
Income from continuing operations	12,313		3,957		35,109		27,200
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	547		1,714		4,062		5,348
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	22,936		2,573		29,455		2,573
Total discontinued operations	23,483		4,287		33,517		7,921
Net income	35,796		8,244		68,626		35,121
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,653)		(366)		(3,166)		(1,496)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(159)		(249)		(566)		(554)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,881)		(3,926)
Excess of Preferred Stock redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value	0		0		0		(1,895)
Net income available for common stockholders	33,357		7,002		63,013		27,250
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.04		$ 0.42		$ 0.28
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29		$ 0.06		$ 0.42		$ 0.10
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44		$ 0.10		$ 0.84		$ 0.38
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	76,590	[1],[2]	72,492	[1],[2]	74,703	[1],[2]	72,176	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14		$ 0.04		$ 0.42		$ 0.28
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29		$ 0.06		$ 0.42		$ 0.10
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43		$ 0.10		$ 0.84		$ 0.38
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	80,495	[1]	76,402	[1]	78,568	[1]	76,127	[1]
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425		$ 1.275		$ 1.275
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	10,980		2,928		31,090		19,724
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	22,377		4,074		31,923		7,526
Net income available for common stockholders	33,357		7,002		63,013		27,250
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	128,214		117,265		382,120		339,497
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	47,159		43,963		137,937		122,376
Depreciation and amortization	38,651		35,051		115,755		99,659
Impairments of real estate assets	0		2,429		0		2,429
General and administrative	9,799		12,280		28,493		27,965
Total operating expenses	95,609		93,723		282,185		252,429
Interest expense:
Contractual	22,910		23,264		70,309		68,444
Amortization of deferred financing costs	907		806		2,709		2,448
Financing obligations	(205)		201		(357)		584
Total interest expense	23,612		24,271		72,661		71,476
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,916		1,505		5,883		5,277
Losses on debt extinguishment	0		0		(973)		(24)
Total other income	1,916		1,505		4,910		5,253
Income from continuing operations before disposition of property, condominiums and investments in unconsolidated affiliates and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	10,909		776		32,184		20,845
Gains on disposition of property	0		262		0		462
Gains/(losses) on for-sale residential condominiums	80		(476)		255		(322)
Gains on disposition of investments in unconsolidated affiliates	0		2,282		0		2,282
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	1,328		1,113		2,679		3,945
Income from continuing operations	12,317		3,957		35,118		27,212
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	547		1,714		4,062		5,348
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	22,936		2,573		29,455		2,573
Total discontinued operations	23,483		4,287		33,517		7,921
Net income	35,800		8,244		68,635		35,133
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(159)		(249)		(566)		(554)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,881)		(3,926)
Excess of Preferred Unit redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value	0		0		0		(1,895)
Net income available for common unitholders	35,014		7,368		66,188		28,758
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15		$ 0.04		$ 0.42		$ 0.28
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29		$ 0.06		$ 0.43		$ 0.10
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44		$ 0.10		$ 0.85		$ 0.38
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	79,949	[1],[2]	75,855	[1],[2]	78,032	[1],[2]	75,549	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.15		0.04		0.42		0.28
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.29		0.06		0.43		0.10
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.44		0.10		0.85		0.38
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	80,086	[1]	75,993	[1]	78,159	[1]	75,718	[1]
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425		$ 1.275		$ 1.275
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	11,531		3,081		32,671		20,837
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	23,483		4,287		33,517		7,921
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 35,014		$ 7,368		$ 66,188		$ 28,758

[1] There were 0.5 million and 0.4 million options outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and 0.5 million and 0.3 million options outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.

[2] Includes all unvested restricted stock since dividends on restricted stock are non-forfeitable.