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]	Series B 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, 2010	$ 1,088,222	$ 1,005,466	$ 717	$ 29,092	$ 52,500	$ 10,044	$ 994,610	$ 1,766,886	$ (3,648)	$ (3,648)	$ 4,460	$ 4,460	$ (761,785)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			71,690,487
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net		23,270				233	23,037			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(128,463)				(1,285)	(127,178)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(4,553)				(46)	(4,507)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			758,389
Issuances of Common Stock, net	23,270		8	0	0			23,262	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			64,469
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	1,906		0	0	0			1,906	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(122,745)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(122,745)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(4,553)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(4,553)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	3,955		0	0	0			3,955	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(569)	(569)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(569)	(569)	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			134,352
Issuances of restricted stock, net	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(52,515)		0	(15)	(52,500)			1,895	0		0		(1,895)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	6,094	6,094	1	0	0	61	6,033	6,093	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		9,483				96	9,387			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,091)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(2,091)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(8)	(747)	0	0	0	755	755	(755)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	47,971	48,032	0	0	0	480	47,552	0	0	0	0	0	47,971
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(2,086)	(2,086)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(2,086)	(2,086)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	45,885	45,946
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	986,859	956,674	726	29,077	0	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]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(827)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	18,332	18,334
Balance at Mar. 31, 2012
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	986,859	956,674	726	29,077	0	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		245,467				2,455	243,012			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(134,291)				(1,343)	(132,948)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(2,508)				(25)	(2,483)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			7,441,489
Issuances of Common Stock, net	243,168		74	0	0			243,094	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			63,366
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	2,096		0	0	0			2,096	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(128,652)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(128,652)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(2,508)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(2,508)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(16,491)		0	0	0			(16,491)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(679)	(679)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(679)	(679)	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			158,885
Issuances of restricted stock, net	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	7,613	7,613	3	0	0	76	7,537	7,610	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(14,644)				(146)	(14,498)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,854)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(3,854)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(8)	(778)	0	0	0	786	786	(786)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	84,235	84,295	0	0	0	843	83,452	0	0	0	0	0	84,235
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(6,894)	(6,894)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(6,894)	(6,894)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	77,341	77,401
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,164,893	1,135,033	803	29,077	0	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
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(688)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	15,609	15,660
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,164,893	1,135,033
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	80,311,437
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(581)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	13,760	13,707
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,164,893	1,135,033	803	29,077	0	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		305,846				3,058	302,788			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(150,936)				(1,509)	(149,427)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(2,508)				(25)	(2,483)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			8,670,517
Issuances of Common Stock, net	305,846		87	0	0			305,759	0		0		0
Conversion of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			789,144
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	28,788		0	0	0			28,788	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(145,964)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(145,964)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(2,508)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(2,508)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(11,375)		0	0	0			(11,375)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(546)	(546)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(546)	(546)	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	16,240	16,240	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16,240	16,240	0
Issuances of restricted stock, net - Shares			151,630
Issuances of restricted stock, net	0		0	0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - Shares			(1,813)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	6,899	6,899	9	0	0	69	6,830	6,890	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		18,700				187	18,513			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(4,691)		0	0	0			0	0		0		(4,691)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	0	(9)	(940)	0	0	0	949	949	(949)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	131,097	131,046	0	0	0	1,310	129,736	0	0	0	0	0	131,097
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	10,017	10,017	0	0	0	0	0	0	10,017	10,017	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	141,114	141,063
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,498,696	1,469,791	899	29,077	0	14,508	1,436,498	2,370,368	(2,611)	(2,611)	21,396	21,396	(920,433)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	89,920,915		89,920,915
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(978)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	31,690	31,690
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 1,498,696	$ 1,469,791
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	89,920,915