Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 393,602	$ 332,337
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,748,869	3,099,943
Development in process	44,621	21,198
Land held for development	110,374	115,416
Total real estate assets	4,297,466	3,568,894
Less-accumulated depreciation	(985,244)	(876,446)
Net real estate assets	3,312,222	2,692,448
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	191,327
Cash and cash equivalents	10,184	13,783
Restricted cash	14,169	19,702
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,648 and $2,848, respectively	26,430	23,073
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $302 and $182, respectively	26,409	25,472
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,063 and $813, respectively	126,014	109,401
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	29,901	66,800
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $92,220 and $75,008, respectively	222,211	163,964
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,905 and $12,318, respectively	39,561	44,458
Total Assets	3,807,101	3,350,428
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	1,956,299	1,859,162
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	218,962	172,146
Financing obligations	26,664	29,358
Total Liabilities	2,201,925	2,060,666
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	106,480	124,869
Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share), 29,077 shares issued and outstanding	29,077	29,077
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 89,920,915 and 80,311,437 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	899	803
Additional paid-in capital	2,370,368	2,040,306
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(920,433)	(897,418)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,611)	(12,628)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,477,300	1,160,140
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	21,396	4,753
Total Equity	1,498,696	1,164,893
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	3,807,101	3,350,428
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	393,602	332,337
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,748,869	3,099,943
Development in process	44,621	21,198
Land held for development	110,374	115,416
Total real estate assets	4,297,466	3,568,894
Less-accumulated depreciation	(985,244)	(876,446)
Net real estate assets	3,312,222	2,692,448
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	191,327
Cash and cash equivalents	10,281	13,867
Restricted cash	14,169	19,702
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,648 and $2,848, respectively	26,430	23,073
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $302 and $182, respectively	26,409	25,472
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $1,063 and $813, respectively	126,014	109,401
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	29,901	65,813
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $92,220 and $75,008, respectively	222,211	163,964
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,905 and $12,318, respectively	39,561	44,458
Total Assets	3,807,198	3,349,525
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity:
Mortgages and notes payable	1,956,299	1,859,162
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	218,887	172,026
Financing obligations	26,664	29,358
Total Liabilities	2,201,850	2,060,546
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,943,872 and 3,733,016 outstanding, respectively	106,480	124,869
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 29,077 units issued and outstanding	29,077	29,077
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	135,557	153,946
Equity:
General partner Common Units, 924,560 and 836,356 outstanding, respectively	14,508	11,427
Limited partner Common Units, 88,587,546 and 79,066,272 outstanding, respectively	1,436,498	1,131,481
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,611)	(12,628)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	21,396	4,753
Total Equity	1,469,791	1,135,033
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Equity	$ 3,807,198	$ 3,349,525