Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Rental and other revenues	$ 152,629		$ 144,827		$ 453,804		$ 407,822
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	57,383		54,102		169,048		148,013
Depreciation and amortization	48,287		47,338		146,895		128,050
Impairments of real estate assets	0		0		588		0
General and administrative	7,526		8,969		26,973		27,948
Total operating expenses	113,196		110,409		343,504		304,011
Interest expense:
Contractual	20,962		22,683		62,352		67,879
Amortization of deferred financing costs	819		963		2,270		2,860
Financing obligations	567		26		301		87
Total interest expense	22,348		23,672		64,923		70,826
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,054		1,582		3,863		4,982
Losses on debt extinguishment	(326)		(32)		(308)		(196)
Total other income	728		1,550		3,555		4,786
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	17,813		12,296		48,932		37,771
Gains/(losses) on disposition of property	36,238		34		42,185		(3)
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in unconsolidated affiliate	0		7,451		0		7,451
Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	248		(3,173)		886		(1,824)
Income from continuing operations	54,299		16,608		92,003		43,395
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0		1,514		0		5,853
Impairments of real estate assets	0		0		0		(2,194)
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0		37,946		384		52,353
Total discontinued operations	0		39,460		384		56,012
Net income	54,299		56,068		92,387		99,407
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,673)		(1,889)		(2,813)		(3,713)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(291)		(203)		(1,152)		(593)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(627)		(1,881)		(1,881)
Net income available for common stockholders	51,708		53,349		86,541		93,220
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.57		$ 0.17		$ 0.96		$ 0.47
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.44		$ 0.00		$ 0.64
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.57		$ 0.61		$ 0.96		$ 1.11
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	90,668		87,467		90,299		83,793
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.57		$ 0.17		$ 0.96		$ 0.47
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.44		$ 0.00		$ 0.64
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.57		$ 0.61		$ 0.96		$ 1.11
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	93,723	[1],[2]	90,769	[1],[2]	93,358	[1],[2]	87,443	[1],[2]
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425		$ 1.275		$ 1.275
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	51,708		15,290		86,169		39,321
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0		38,059		372		53,899
Net income available for common stockholders	51,708		53,349		86,541		93,220
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	152,629		144,827		453,804		407,822
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	57,383		54,080		169,015		147,995
Depreciation and amortization	48,287		47,338		146,895		128,050
Impairments of real estate assets	0		0		588		0
General and administrative	7,526		8,991		27,006		27,966
Total operating expenses	113,196		110,409		343,504		304,011
Interest expense:
Contractual	20,962		22,683		62,352		67,879
Amortization of deferred financing costs	819		963		2,270		2,860
Financing obligations	567		26		301		87
Total interest expense	22,348		23,672		64,923		70,826
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,054		1,582		3,863		4,982
Losses on debt extinguishment	(326)		(32)		(308)		(196)
Total other income	728		1,550		3,555		4,786
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	17,813		12,296		48,932		37,771
Gains/(losses) on disposition of property	36,238		34		42,185		(3)
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in unconsolidated affiliate	0		7,451		0		7,451
Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	248		(3,174)		886		(1,875)
Income from continuing operations	54,299		16,607		92,003		43,344
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0		1,514		0		5,853
Impairments of real estate assets	0		0		0		(2,194)
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0		37,946		384		52,353
Total discontinued operations	0		39,460		384		56,012
Net income	54,299		56,067		92,387		99,356
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(291)		(203)		(1,152)		(593)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(627)		(1,881)		(1,881)
Net income available for common unitholders	53,381		55,237		89,354		96,882
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.57		$ 0.17		$ 0.96		$ 0.47
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.44		$ 0.00		$ 0.64
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.57		$ 0.61		$ 0.96		$ 1.11
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	93,196		90,259		92,828		86,920
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.57		$ 0.17		$ 0.96		$ 0.47
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.44		$ 0.00		$ 0.64
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.57		$ 0.61		$ 0.96		$ 1.11
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	93,314	[2],[3]	90,360	[2],[3]	92,949	[2],[3]	87,034	[2],[3]
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.425		$ 0.425		$ 1.275		$ 1.275
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	53,381		15,777		88,970		40,870
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0		39,460		384		56,012
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 53,381		$ 55,237		$ 89,354		$ 96,882

[1] There were 0.3 million options outstanding during both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive. There were no such options outstanding during both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

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

[3] There were 0.3 million options outstanding during both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per unit because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive. There were no such options outstanding during both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.