Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities - Scheduled Future Amortization (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 149,170	$ 149,170	$ 127,774
Deferred Financing Costs [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	1,069	1,069
2013	3,381	3,381
2014	3,009	3,009
2015	2,395	2,395
2016	1,024	1,024
Thereafter	959	959
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	11,837	11,837	12,247
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)		3 years 7 months 6 days
Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	7,020	7,020
2013	25,080	25,080
2014	21,190	21,190
2015	17,216	17,216
2016	14,047	14,047
Thereafter	37,292	37,292
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	121,845	121,845
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)		7 years 1 month 6 days
Lease Incentives [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	349	349
2013	1,286	1,286
2014	1,134	1,134
2015	902	902
2016	708	708
Thereafter	2,536	2,536
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	6,915	6,915
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)		7 years 7 months 6 days
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	293	293
2013	991	991
2014	734	734
2015	549	549
2016	489	489
Thereafter	969	969
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	4,025	4,025
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)		5 years 7 months 6 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	5 years 3 months 18 days
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	140	140
2013	553	553
2014	553	553
2015	553	553
2016	553	553
Thereafter	2,196	2,196
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	4,548	4,548
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)		8 years 2 months 12 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	8 years 2 months 12 days
Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	(802)	(802)
2013	(3,168)	(3,168)
2014	(3,106)	(3,106)
2015	(2,894)	(2,894)
2016	(2,603)	(2,603)
Thereafter	(12,886)	(12,886)
Total scheduled future amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	(25,459)	(25,459)	(15,470)
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived below market lease liabilities, average useful life (in years)		9 years 10 months 24 days
Assumed finite-lived below market lease liabilities, average useful life (in years)	11 years 3 months 18 days
in-Place Lease Intangible Assets [Member]
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	9 years 2 months 12 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	149,170	149,170	127,774
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Deferred Financing Costs [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	1,069	1,069
2013	3,381	3,381
2014	3,009	3,009
2015	2,395	2,395
2016	1,024	1,024
Thereafter	959	959
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	11,837	11,837	12,247
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)		3 years 7 months 6 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	7,020	7,020
2013	25,080	25,080
2014	21,190	21,190
2015	17,216	17,216
2016	14,047	14,047
Thereafter	37,292	37,292
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	121,845	121,845
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)		7 years 1 month 6 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Lease Incentives [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	349	349
2013	1,286	1,286
2014	1,134	1,134
2015	902	902
2016	708	708
Thereafter	2,536	2,536
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	6,915	6,915
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)		7 years 7 months 6 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	293	293
2013	991	991
2014	734	734
2015	549	549
2016	489	489
Thereafter	969	969
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	4,025	4,025
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)		5 years 7 months 6 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	5 years 3 months 18 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	140	140
2013	553	553
2014	553	553
2015	553	553
2016	553	553
Thereafter	2,196	2,196
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	4,548	4,548
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)		8 years 2 months 12 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	8 years 2 months 12 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012	(802)	(802)
2013	(3,168)	(3,168)
2014	(3,106)	(3,106)
2015	(2,894)	(2,894)
2016	(2,603)	(2,603)
Thereafter	(12,886)	(12,886)
Total scheduled future amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$ (25,459)	$ (25,459)	$ (15,470)
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived below market lease liabilities, average useful life (in years)		9 years 10 months 24 days
Assumed finite-lived below market lease liabilities, average useful life (in years)	11 years 3 months 18 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | in-Place Lease Intangible Assets [Member]
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	9 years 2 months 12 days