Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 1,314	$ 1,648
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	275	302
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	600	1,063
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	112,804	92,220
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	14,259	12,905
Equity/Capital:
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Preferred Stock, shares issued (in shares)	29,060	29,077
Preferred Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	29,060	29,077
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued (in shares)	92,907,310	89,920,915
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	92,907,310	89,920,915
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	1,314	1,648
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	275	302
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	600	1,063
Deferred financing and leasing costs, accumulated amortization	112,804	92,220
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	$ 14,259	$ 12,905
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Redeemable Common Units, outstanding (in shares)	2,936,955	2,943,872
Preferred Units liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	29,060	29,077
Series A Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	29,060	29,077
Common Units:
General partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	954,355	924,560
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	91,544,146	88,587,546