Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities - Scheduled Future Amortization (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 176,816	$ 169,094
Deferred Financing Costs [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	2,768
2014	3,249
2015	2,614
2016	1,515
2017	1,226
Thereafter	1,406
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	12,778	13,897
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
Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	24,305
2014	28,125
2015	22,845
2016	18,485
2017	15,591
Thereafter	36,617
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	145,968
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	6 years 7 months 7 days
Lease Incentives [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	965
2014	1,154
2015	926
2016	734
2017	660
Thereafter	2,105
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	6,544
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 7 days
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	1,372
2014	1,537
2015	1,252
2016	1,023
2017	908
Thereafter	1,164
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	7,256
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 4 months 25 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	4 years 11 months
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	416
2014	553
2015	553
2016	553
2017	553
Thereafter	1,642
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	4,270
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 8 months 15 days
Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	(3,087)
2014	(4,009)
2015	(3,746)
2016	(3,443)
2017	(3,208)
Thereafter	(15,726)
Total scheduled future amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	(33,219)	(33,636)
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 9 months 20 days
Assumed finite-lived below market lease liabilities, average useful life (in years)	9 years 4 months
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)	4 years 10 months
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	176,816	169,094
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Deferred Financing Costs [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	2,768
2014	3,249
2015	2,614
2016	1,515
2017	1,226
Thereafter	1,406
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	12,778	13,897
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
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	24,305
2014	28,125
2015	22,845
2016	18,485
2017	15,591
Thereafter	36,617
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	145,968
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	6 years 7 months 7 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Lease Incentives [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	965
2014	1,154
2015	926
2016	734
2017	660
Thereafter	2,105
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	6,544
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 7 days
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	1,372
2014	1,537
2015	1,252
2016	1,023
2017	908
Thereafter	1,164
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	7,256
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 4 months 25 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	4 years 11 months
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	416
2014	553
2015	553
2016	553
2017	553
Thereafter	1,642
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	4,270
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 8 months 15 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
April 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013	(3,087)
2014	(4,009)
2015	(3,746)
2016	(3,443)
2017	(3,208)
Thereafter	(15,726)
Total scheduled future amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$ (33,219)	$ (33,636)
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 9 months 20 days
Assumed finite-lived below market lease liabilities, average useful life (in years)	9 years 4 months
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)	4 years 10 months