Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility due 2015 [Member]	Oct. 22, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility due 2015 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 5.85% (5.88% effective rate) Notes due 2017 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Variable Rate Construction Loan due 2012 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Variable Rate Term Loan due 2016 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Secured indebtedness [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Secured indebtedness [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Unsecured indebtedness [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured indebtedness [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Revolving Credit Facility due 2015 [Member]	Oct. 22, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Revolving Credit Facility due 2015 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] 5.85% (5.88% effective rate) Notes due 2017 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Variable Rate Construction Loan due 2012 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Variable Rate Term Loan due 2016 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Secured indebtedness [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Secured indebtedness [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Unsecured indebtedness [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Unsecured indebtedness [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 1,778,555,000		$ 1,778,555,000		$ 1,868,906,000						$ 685,390,000	$ 715,742,000	$ 1,093,165,000	$ 1,153,164,000	$ 1,778,555,000		$ 1,778,555,000		$ 1,868,906,000						$ 685,390,000	$ 715,742,000	$ 1,093,165,000	$ 1,153,164,000
Aggregate undepreciated book value of secured real estate assets											1,148,200,000														1,148,200,000
Maximum borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility						475,000,000														475,000,000
Maturity date on revolving credit facility						Jul. 27, 2015														Jul. 27, 2015
Additional borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility						75,000,000														75,000,000
Credit facility, interest rate basis						LIBOR plus basis points														LIBOR plus basis points
Credit facility, current interest rate (in hundredths)						1.50%														1.50%
Annual facility fee (in hundredths)						0.35%														0.35%
Amount outstanding on revolving credit facility						89,000,000	59,500,000													89,000,000	59,500,000
Outstanding letters of credit on revolving credit facility						100,000	100,000													100,000	100,000
Unused borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility						385,900,000	415,400,000													385,900,000	415,400,000
Principal amount of repurchased debt								12,100,000														12,100,000
Debt instrument maturity date								Mar. 15, 2017														Mar. 15, 2017
Debt instrument, interest rate basis										LIBOR plus basis points														LIBOR plus basis points
Debt instrument, interest rate basis spread (in hundredths)										1.90%														1.90%
Debt instrument, current interest rate (in hundredths)								5.85%														5.85%
Purchase price of debt, percentage of par value (in hundredths)								107.50%														107.50%
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(973,000)	(24,000)				1,000,000							0	0	(973,000)	(24,000)				1,000,000
Principal amount of debt									$ 34,300,000	$ 225,000,000													$ 34,300,000	$ 225,000,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)										7 years														7 years