Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partner Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,164,893	$ 1,135,033	$ 803	$ 29,077	$ 11,427	$ 1,131,481	$ 2,040,306	$ (12,628)	$ (12,628)	$ 4,753	$ 4,753	$ (897,418)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			80,311,437
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of units redeemed for tax withholdings		305,601			3,056	302,545			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(111,645)			(1,117)	(110,528)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,881)			(19)	(1,862)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			8,660,546
Issuances of Common Stock, net of shares redeemed for tax withholdings	305,601		87	0			305,514	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			789,144
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	28,788		0	0			28,788	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(107,750)		0	0			0	0		0		(107,750)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,881)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,881)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(8,570)		0	0			(8,570)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(408)	(408)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(408)	(408)	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	16,240	16,240	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16,240	16,240	0
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			151,630
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - Shares			(1,813)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	5,896	5,896	9	0	59	5,837	5,887	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		20,329			204	20,125			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,713)		0	0			0	0		0		(3,713)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(6)	(587)	0	0	0	593	593	(593)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	99,407	99,356	0	0	994	98,362	0	0	0	0	0	99,407
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	7,625	7,625	0	0	0	0	0	7,625	7,625	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	107,032	106,981
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	1,506,128	1,476,146	899	29,077	14,598	1,445,373	2,371,925	(5,003)	(5,003)	21,178	21,178	(911,948)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013			89,910,944
Balance at Jun. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,889)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	56,068	56,067
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(861)	(861)
Total comprehensive income	55,207	55,206
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	1,506,128	1,476,146
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,498,696	1,469,791	899	29,077	14,508	1,436,498	2,370,368	(2,611)	(2,611)	21,396	21,396	(920,433)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	89,920,915		89,920,915
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of units redeemed for tax withholdings		45,922			459	45,463			0		0
Redemptions of Common Units		(93)			(1)	(92)			0		0
Distributions paid on Common Units		(118,261)			(1,183)	(117,078)			0		0
Distributions paid on Preferred Units		(1,881)			(19)	(1,862)			0		0
Issuances of Common Stock - Shares			1,175,191
Issuances of Common Stock, net of shares redeemed for tax withholdings	45,922		12	0			45,910	0		0		0
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			4,417
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	162		0	0			162	0		0		0
Dividends on Common Stock	(115,037)		0	0			0	0		0		(115,037)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,881)		0	0			0	0		0		(1,881)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(8,955)		0	0			(8,955)	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(940)	(940)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(940)	(940)	0
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			169,501
Issuances of restricted stock	0		0	0			0	0		0		0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	6,179	6,179	2	0	62	6,117	6,177	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(8,333)			(83)	(8,250)			0		0
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,813)		0	0			0	0		0		(2,813)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0	(12)	(1,140)	0	0	0	1,152	1,152	(1,152)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	92,387	92,387	0	0	924	91,463	0	0	0	0	0	92,387
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(220)	(220)	0	0	0	0	0	(220)	(220)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	92,167	92,167
Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	1,513,500	1,484,551	913	29,077	14,655	1,451,119	2,413,662	(2,831)	(2,831)	21,608	21,608	(948,929)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2014	91,270,024		91,270,024
Balance at Jun. 30, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,673)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	54,299	54,299
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	1,888	1,888
Total comprehensive income	56,187	56,187
Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 1,513,500	$ 1,484,551
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2014	91,270,024