Share-Based Payments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 798,000	$ 1,153,000	$ 6,179,000	$ 5,896,000
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation costs	$ 5,500,000		$ 5,500,000
Weighted average remaining contractual term for recognition of unrecognized stock-based compensation costs (in years)			2 years 6 months
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options granted			190,330
Weighted average grant date fair value of each stock option granted (in dollars per option)			$ 6.75
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Time-Based Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock shares granted			94,932
Weighted average grant date fair value of each restricted stock granted (in dollars per share)			$ 37.76
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Total Return-Based Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock shares granted			74,569
Weighted average grant date fair value of each restricted stock granted (in dollars per share)			$ 35.58