Investments In and Advances To Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Assets [Abstract]
Real estate assets, net	$ 228,497,000		$ 491,180,000
All other assets, net	66,196,000		113,734,000
Total Assets	294,693,000	[1]	604,914,000	[1]
Liabilities and Partners' or Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable	189,432,000	[2]	370,393,000	[2]
All other liabilities	11,338,000		24,507,000
Partners' or shareholders' equity	93,923,000		210,014,000
Total Liabilities and Partners' or Shareholders' Equity	294,693,000	[1]	604,914,000	[1]
Our share of historical partners' or shareholders' equity	29,099,000		63,847,000
Net excess of cost of investments over the net book value of underlying net assets	802,000	[3]	2,953,000	[3]
Carrying value of investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	29,901,000		66,800,000
Our share of unconsolidated non-recourse mortgage debt	64,424,000	[2]	137,261,000	[2]
Scheduled future principal payments [Abstract]
2014	11,011,000
2015	992,000
2016	1,062,000
2017	27,082,000
2018	19,397,000
Thereafter	4,880,000
Total scheduled future principal payments	64,424,000	[2]	137,261,000	[2]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues	82,168,000		101,233,000		100,958,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	41,284,000		47,762,000		44,584,000
Depreciation and amortization	20,928,000		25,253,000		26,430,000
Impairments of real estate assets	20,077,000		7,180,000		0
Interest expense	14,994,000		20,953,000		23,762,000
Total expenses	97,283,000		101,148,000		94,776,000
Income before disposition of properties	(15,115,000)		85,000		6,182,000
Gains on disposition of properties	20,501,000		11,184,000		0
Net income	5,386,000	[1]	11,269,000	[1]	6,182,000	[1]
Our share of:
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets	6,796,000		7,736,000		8,388,000
Impairments of real estate assets	4,507,000		1,002,000		0
Interest expense	5,422,000		7,368,000		8,163,000
Net gain on disposition of depreciable properties	3,616,000		1,120,000		0
Net income	1,099,000		3,304,000		2,429,000
Our share of net income	1,099,000		3,304,000		2,429,000
Adjustment for management and other fees	1,165,000		1,731,000		2,449,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	2,264,000		5,035,000		4,878,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%
Net gain on disposition of property	20,501,000		11,184,000		0
Taxes incurred by taxable REIT subsidiary related to disposition	1,700,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property	3,616,000		1,120,000		0
Impairments of real estate assets	20,077,000		7,180,000		0
Gain on disposition of investment of unconsolidated affiliate	0		0		2,282,000
Development, management and leasing fees revenue	2,900,000		2,400,000		3,100,000
Receivables from management and leasing fees	500,000		900,000
Concourse Center Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%
Plaza Colonnade, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%
Lofts at Weston, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of properties	12,200,000				300,000
Our share of:
Net gain on disposition of depreciable properties	3,200,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%
Contribution of land (in acres)					15.0
Contribution of property to unconsolidated affiliate					2,400,000
Payments to acquire interest in joint venture by partner					1,200,000
Distribution by joint venture for land contribution	9,400,000				1,200,000
Net gain on disposition of property	12,200,000				300,000
Residential units (in units)					215
Total cost to construct residential units					25,900,000
Taxes incurred by taxable REIT subsidiary related to disposition	1,700,000
Gross proceeds from disposition of property	38,300,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property	3,200,000
Board of Trade Investment Company Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	49.00%
Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of properties	100,000
Our share of:
Net gain on disposition of depreciable properties	400,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	42.90%
Net gain on disposition of property	100,000
Joint venture principal amount of debt			50,000,000.0
Term of debt instrument (in years)			3 years
Current fixed interest rate (in hundredths)			3.50%
Amount of loan related to fixed interest rate			39,100,000
Floating interest rate, interest rate basis			LIBOR plus 250 basis points
Current floating interest rate (in hundredths)			2.50%
Amount of loan related to floating interest rate			10,900,000
Number of office properties sold	2
Gross proceeds from disposition of property	10,100,000
Closing credits for free rent	300,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property	400,000
Highwoods KC Glenridge Office, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	40.00%
Highwoods KC Glenridge Land, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	39.90%
HIW-KC Orlando, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest acquired in unconsolidated affiliate (in hundredths)	60.00%
Kessinger Hunter, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	26.50%
Amount of related party transaction	200,000		1,100,000		2,100,000
Highwoods DLF Forum, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	25.00%
Joint venture principal amount of debt	71,700,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)	5 years
Floating interest rate, interest rate basis	LIBOR plus 190 basis points
Current floating interest rate (in hundredths)	1.90%
Advance to unconsolidated affiliate, scheduled loan maturity date	Nov. 01, 2018
Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Impairments of real estate assets	20,100,000
Gains on disposition of properties	100,000		4,900,000
Our share of:
Net gain on disposition of depreciable properties	100,000		1,100,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	22.80%
Net gain on disposition of property	100,000		4,900,000
Number of office properties sold			2
Gross proceeds from disposition of property	5,900,000		15,500,000
Closing credits for free rent	100,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property	100,000		1,100,000
Our proportionate share of impairment of assets in discontinued operations	4,500,000		1,000,000
Number of office properties impaired	3		2
Impairments of real estate assets	20,100,000
Advance to unconsolidated affiliate loan amount					38,300,000
Advance to unconsolidated affiliate, scheduled loan maturity date					Mar. 31, 2012
Interest income received from advance to unconsolidated affiliate			900,000		1,300,000
4600 Madison Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	12.50%
HIW Development B Joint Venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum					10.00%
Gross proceeds from disposition of property					4,800,000
Gain on disposition of investment of unconsolidated affiliate					2,300,000
Highwoods-Markel Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Consolidated Affiliates:
Percentage of equity interest in consolidated affiliates	50.00%
Fair value of noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliate	33,400,000
SF-Harborview Plaza, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Consolidated Affiliates:
Percentage of equity interest in consolidated affiliates	20.00%
Advance to consolidated affiliate			20,800,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)			3 years
Advance to consolidated affiliate, scheduled maturity date			Sep. 30, 2015
Term of put option right (in years)	1 year
Interest rate basis			LIBOR plus basis points
Interest rate, basis spread			5.00%
Interest rate floor			0.50%
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Liabilities and Partners' or Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]
Carrying value of investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	29,901,000		65,813,000
Income Statement [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues	79,049,000		97,225,000		96,771,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	39,424,000		45,391,000		42,052,000
Depreciation and amortization	19,994,000		24,007,000		25,184,000
Impairments of real estate assets	20,077,000		7,180,000		0
Interest expense	14,511,000		20,296,000		23,062,000
Total expenses	94,006,000		96,874,000		90,298,000
Income before disposition of properties	(14,957,000)		351,000		6,473,000
Gains on disposition of properties	20,501,000		11,184,000		0
Net income	5,544,000	[1]	11,535,000	[1]	6,473,000	[1]
Our share of:
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets	6,679,000		7,580,000		8,232,000
Impairments of real estate assets	4,507,000		1,002,000		0
Interest expense	5,362,000		7,286,000		8,075,000
Net gain on disposition of depreciable properties	3,616,000		1,120,000		0
Net income	1,119,000		3,337,000		2,585,000
Our share of net income	1,119,000		3,337,000		2,585,000
Adjustment for management and other fees	1,094,000		1,758,000		2,354,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	2,213,000		5,095,000		4,939,000
Net gain on disposition of property	20,501,000		11,184,000		0
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property	3,616,000		1,120,000		0
Impairments of real estate assets	20,077,000		7,180,000		0
Gain on disposition of investment of unconsolidated affiliate	$ 0		$ 0		$ 2,282,000

[1] For the year ended December 31, 2013, as a result of acquiring our joint venture partner's 60.0% interest in 2013, we consolidated a joint venture previously accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

[2] Our share of scheduled future principal payments, including amortization, due on mortgages and notes payable at December 31, 2013 is as follows:2014$11,011201599220161,062201727,082201819,397Thereafter4,880 $64,424 All of this joint venture debt is non-recourse to us except in the case of customary exceptions pertaining to such matters as misuse of funds, environmental conditions, material misrepresentations and voluntary or uncontested involuntary bankruptcy events.

[3] This amount represents the aggregate difference between our historical cost basis and the basis reflected at the joint venture level, which is depreciated over the life of the related asset.