Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 10,531	[1]	$ 26,485	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			301
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,553		3,996
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	13,696		13,403
Total Assets	27,780		44,185
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	2,087,145	[1]	2,037,385	[1]
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	959		510
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,553		3,996
Financing obligations, at fair value	22,654	[1]	22,478	[1]
Total Liabilities	2,114,311		2,064,369
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	3,553		3,996
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Total Assets	3,553		3,996
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	3,553		3,996
Financing obligations, at fair value	0		0
Total Liabilities	3,553		3,996
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	201		17,029
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			301
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Total Assets	201		17,330
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	2,087,145		2,037,385
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	959		510
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	0		0
Total Liabilities	2,088,104		2,037,895
Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	10,330		9,456
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Tax increment financing bond (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	13,696		13,403
Total Assets	24,026		22,859
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Financing obligations, at fair value	22,654		22,478
Total Liabilities	22,654		22,478
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	114,248		106,480
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	114,248		106,480
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	0		0
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0		$ 0

[1] Amounts recorded at historical cost on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.