Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 1,412	$ 1,648
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	300	302
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	1,118	1,063
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	100,639	92,220
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	13,186	12,905
Equity:
Series A Preferred Stock, dividend rate percentage (in hundredths)	8.625%	8.625%
Series A Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series A Preferred Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
Series A Preferred Stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Stock, shares issued (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Series A Preferred Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued (in shares)	90,061,731	89,920,915
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	90,061,731	89,920,915
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	1,412	1,648
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	300	302
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	1,118	1,063
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	100,639	92,220
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	$ 13,186	$ 12,905
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units: [Abstract]
Redeemable Common Units outstanding (in shares)	2,936,955	2,943,872
Series A Preferred Units, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Series A Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	29,077	29,077
Common Units: [Abstract]
General partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	925,899	924,560
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	88,727,023	88,587,546