Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Rental and other revenues	$ 556,810		$ 485,046		$ 431,956
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	203,344		176,744		157,306
Depreciation and amortization	176,957		146,357		127,499
General and administrative	37,193		37,377		35,727
Total operating expenses	417,494		360,478		320,532
Interest expense:
Contractual	88,838		92,838		91,458
Amortization of deferred financing costs	3,802		3,685		3,312
Financing obligations	63		(409)		740
Total interest expense	92,703		96,114		95,510
Other income:
Interest and other income	6,597		7,353		7,387
Losses on debt extinguishment	(199)		(973)		(24)
Total other income	6,398		6,380		7,363
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	53,011		34,834		23,277
Gains/(losses) on disposition of property	(3)		0		764
Gains/(losses) on for-sale residential condominiums	0		444		(316)
Gains on disposition of investments in unconsolidated affiliates	0		0		2,282
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in unconsolidated affiliate	7,451		0		0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	2,264		5,035		4,878
Income from continuing operations	62,723		40,313		30,885
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	6,776		14,467		16,942
Impairment of real estate assets	(2,194)		0		(2,429)
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	63,792		29,455		2,573
Total discontinued operations	68,374		43,922		17,086
Net income	131,097		84,235		47,971
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(4,691)		(3,854)		(2,091)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(949)		(786)		(755)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(2,508)		(2,508)		(4,553)
Excess of Preferred Stock redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value	0		0		(1,895)
Net income available for common stockholders	122,949		77,087		38,677
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.67		$ 0.47		$ 0.31
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77		$ 0.55		$ 0.23
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44		$ 1.02		$ 0.54
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	85,335	[1],[2]	75,811	[1],[2]	72,281	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.67		$ 0.47		$ 0.31
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77		$ 0.55		$ 0.23
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44		$ 1.02		$ 0.54
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	88,836	[1]	79,678	[1]	76,189	[1]
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	57,081		35,252		22,443
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	65,868		41,835		16,234
Net income available for common stockholders	122,949		77,087		38,677
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	556,810		485,046		431,956
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	203,303		176,495		157,280
Depreciation and amortization	176,957		146,357		127,499
General and administrative	37,234		37,626		35,753
Total operating expenses	417,494		360,478		320,532
Interest expense:
Contractual	88,838		92,838		91,458
Amortization of deferred financing costs	3,802		3,685		3,312
Financing obligations	63		(409)		740
Total interest expense	92,703		96,114		95,510
Other income:
Interest and other income	6,597		7,353		7,387
Losses on debt extinguishment	(199)		(973)		(24)
Total other income	6,398		6,380		7,363
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	53,011		34,834		23,277
Gains/(losses) on disposition of property	(3)		0		764
Gains/(losses) on for-sale residential condominiums	0		444		(316)
Gains on disposition of investments in unconsolidated affiliates	0		0		2,282
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in unconsolidated affiliate	7,451		0		0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	2,213		5,095		4,939
Income from continuing operations	62,672		40,373		30,946
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	6,776		14,467		16,942
Impairment of real estate assets	(2,194)		0		(2,429)
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	63,792		29,455		2,573
Total discontinued operations	68,374		43,922		17,086
Net income	131,046		84,295		48,032
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(949)		(786)		(755)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(2,508)		(2,508)		(4,553)
Excess of Preferred Unit redemption/repurchase cost over carrying value	0		0		(1,895)
Net income available for common unitholders	127,589		81,001		40,829
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.67		$ 0.47		$ 0.31
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77		$ 0.55		$ 0.23
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44		$ 1.02		$ 0.54
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	88,313		79,147		75,644
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.67		$ 0.47		$ 0.31
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77		$ 0.55		$ 0.23
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44		$ 1.02		$ 0.54
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	88,427		79,269		75,780
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	59,215		37,079		23,743
Total discontinued operations	68,374		43,922		17,086
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 127,589		$ 81,001		$ 40,829

[1] There were 0.3 million, 0.5 million and 0.4 million options outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.

[2] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.