Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 15, 2013 Atlanta, GA Industrial Property Disposition (3/2013) [Member] property	Apr. 24, 2013 Atlanta, GA Industrial Property/Land Disposition (3/2013) [Member] property	Apr. 17, 2013 Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Apr. 15, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Atlanta, GA Industrial Property Disposition (3/2013) [Member] property	Apr. 24, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Atlanta, GA Industrial Property/Land Disposition (3/2013) [Member] property	Apr. 17, 2013 Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of industrial real estate properties sold			5	6				5	6
Proceeds received from sale of real estate			$ 4,500,000	$ 38,700,000				$ 4,500,000	$ 38,700,000
Closing credits for free rent			122,000	1,279,000				122,000	1,279,000
Closing credits for unfunded tenant improvements				1,803,000					1,803,000
Gain/(loss) on disposition of discontinued operations	1,244,000	5,134,000	15,000	13,177,000		1,244,000	5,134,000	15,000	13,177,000
Proceeds received from disposition of property					6,000,000					6,000,000
Gains on disposition of properties	24,000	0			43,000	24,000	0			43,000
Our share of gains recorded on disposition of property	$ 421,000	$ 0			$ 9,000	$ 421,000	$ 0			$ 9,000