Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 986,859	$ 956,674	$ 726	$ 29,077	$ 9,575	$ 948,187	$ 1,803,997	$ (5,734)	$ (5,734)	$ 4,646	$ 4,646	$ (845,853)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			72,647,697
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		26,644			266	26,378			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(32,371)			(323)	(32,048)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(627)			(6)	(621)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			807,483
Issuances of Common Stock, net	26,644		8	0			26,636	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			2,000
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	63		0	0			63	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(30,961)		0	0			0	0		0		(30,961)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		0	0			0	0		0		(627)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(14,366)		0	0			(14,366)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(291)	(291)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(291)	(291)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - Shares			151,391
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense	2,422	2,422	2	0	24	2,398	2,420	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(13,636)			(137)	(13,499)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(827)		0	0			0	0		0		(827)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(2)	(182)	0	0	0	184	184	(184)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	18,332	18,334	0	0	183	18,151	0	0	0	0	0	18,332
Other comprehensive income	1,358	1,358	0	0	0	0	0	1,358	1,358	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	19,690	19,692
Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	988,606	958,507	736	29,077	9,580	948,764	1,818,750	(4,376)	(4,376)	4,539	4,539	(860,120)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2012			73,608,571
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,164,893	1,135,033	803	29,077	11,427	1,131,481	2,040,306	(12,628)	(12,628)	4,753	4,753	(897,418)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	80,311,437		80,311,437
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		55,804			558	55,246			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(35,669)			(356)	(35,313)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(627)			(6)	(621)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			1,664,519
Issuances of Common Stock, net	55,804		17	0			55,787	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			10,071
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	351		0	0			351	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(34,259)		0	0			0	0		0		(34,259)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		0	0			0	0		0		(627)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(23,802)		0	0			(23,802)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(265)	(265)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(265)	(265)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - Shares			144,566
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense	3,440	3,440	1	0	34	3,406	3,439	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(22,854)			(229)	(22,625)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(581)		0	0			0	0		0		(581)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(2)	(201)	0	0	0	203	203	(203)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	13,760	13,707	0	0	137	13,570	0	0	0	0	0	13,760
Other comprehensive income	1,458	1,458	0	0	0	0	0	1,458	1,458	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	15,218	15,165
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	$ 1,180,172	$ 1,150,027	$ 821	$ 29,077	$ 11,563	$ 1,144,943	$ 2,076,081	$ (11,170)	$ (11,170)	$ 4,691	$ 4,691	$ (919,328)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2013	82,130,593		82,130,593