Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 386,333	$ 393,602
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,756,655	3,748,869
Development in process	184,238	44,621
Land held for development	89,010	110,374
Total real estate assets	4,416,236	4,297,466
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,013,071)	(985,244)
Net real estate assets	3,403,165	3,312,222
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	1,032	0
Cash and cash equivalents	11,600	10,184
Restricted cash	10,633	14,169
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,408 and $1,648, respectively	29,970	26,430
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $255 and $302, respectively	10,501	26,409
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $601 and $1,063, respectively	136,578	126,014
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	30,248	29,901
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $108,878 and $92,220, respectively	218,725	222,211
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $13,913 and $12,905, respectively	42,635	39,561
Total Assets	3,895,087	3,807,101
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,013,824	1,956,299
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	229,996	218,962
Financing obligations	23,519	26,664
Total Liabilities	2,267,339	2,201,925
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	114,248	106,480
Equity/Capital:
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; 91,270,024 and 89,920,915 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	913	899
Additional paid-in capital	2,413,662	2,370,368
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(948,929)	(920,433)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,831)	(2,611)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,491,892	1,477,300
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	21,608	21,396
Total Equity/Captal	1,513,500	1,498,696
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	3,895,087	3,807,101
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	386,333	393,602
Buildings and tenant improvements	3,756,655	3,748,869
Development in process	184,238	44,621
Land held for development	89,010	110,374
Total real estate assets	4,416,236	4,297,466
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,013,071)	(985,244)
Net real estate assets	3,403,165	3,312,222
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	1,032	0
Cash and cash equivalents	11,706	10,281
Restricted cash	10,633	14,169
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,408 and $1,648, respectively	29,970	26,430
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $255 and $302, respectively	10,501	26,409
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $601 and $1,063, respectively	136,578	126,014
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	30,248	29,901
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $108,878 and $92,220, respectively	218,725	222,211
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $13,913 and $12,905, respectively	42,593	39,561
Total Assets	3,895,151	3,807,198
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable	2,013,824	1,956,299
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	229,932	218,887
Financing obligations	23,519	26,664
Total Liabilities	2,267,275	2,201,850
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,936,955 and 2,943,872 outstanding, respectively	114,248	106,480
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	143,325	135,557
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 937,982 and 924,560 outstanding, respectively	14,655	14,508
Limited partner Common Units, 89,923,233 and 88,587,546 outstanding, respectively	1,451,119	1,436,498
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,831)	(2,611)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	21,608	21,396
Total Equity/Captal	1,484,551	1,469,791
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 3,895,151	$ 3,807,198