Investments In and Advances To Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011 acre properties
Assets [Abstract]
Real estate assets, net	$ 209,097,000		$ 228,497,000
All other assets, net	56,330,000		66,196,000
Total Assets	265,427,000	[1]	294,693,000	[1]
Liabilities and Partners' or Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable	170,787,000		189,432,000
All other liabilities	11,240,000		11,338,000
Partners' or shareholders' equity	83,400,000		93,923,000
Total Liabilities and Partners' or Shareholders' Equity	265,427,000	[1]	294,693,000	[1]
Our share of historical partners' or shareholders' equity	28,088,000		29,099,000
Advances to unconsolidated affiliate	64,000		0
Difference between cost of investments and the net book value of underlying net assets	(1,081,000)		802,000
Carrying value of investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	27,071,000		29,901,000
Our share of unconsolidated non-recourse mortgage debt	56,812,000		64,424,000
Scheduled future principal payments [Abstract]
2015	4,758,000
2016	1,117,000
2017	27,122,000
2018	19,377,000
2019	563,000
Thereafter	3,875,000
Total scheduled future principal payments	56,812,000		64,424,000
Income Statement [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues	50,514,000		82,168,000		101,233,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	25,159,000		41,284,000		47,762,000
Depreciation and amortization	13,310,000		20,928,000		25,253,000
Impairments of real estate assets	0		20,077,000		7,180,000
Interest expense	8,847,000		14,994,000		20,953,000
Total expenses	47,316,000		97,283,000		101,148,000
Income/(loss) before disposition of property	3,198,000		(15,115,000)		85,000
Gains on disposition of property	2,998,000		20,501,000		11,184,000
Net income	6,196,000	[1]	5,386,000	[1]	11,269,000	[1]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%
Taxes incurred by taxable REIT subsidiary related to disposition			1,700,000
Net gain on disposition of property	2,998,000		20,501,000		11,184,000
Impairments of real estate assets	0		20,077,000		7,180,000
Advance to unconsolidated affiliate loan amount	(64,000)		0
Development, management and leasing fees revenue	1,200,000		2,900,000		2,400,000
Receivables from management and leasing fees	500,000		500,000
Concourse Center Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%
Plaza Colonnade, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%
Lofts at Weston, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of property			12,200,000				300,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%
Contribution of land (in acres)							15.0
Contribution of property to unconsolidated affiliate							2,400,000
Payments to acquire interest in joint venture by partner							1,200,000
Distribution by joint venture for land contribution			9,400,000				1,200,000
Residential units (in units)							215
Total cost to construct residential units							25,900,000
Taxes incurred by taxable REIT subsidiary related to disposition			1,700,000
Purchase price of real estate			38,300,000
Net gain on disposition of property			12,200,000				300,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property			3,200,000
Board of Trade Investment Company Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of property	1,900,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	49.00%
Purchase price of real estate	8,300,000
Net gain on disposition of property	1,900,000
Our proportionate share of impairment of assets in discontinued operations	400,000
Expected aggregate distributions	4,700,000
Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of property			100,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	42.90%
Joint venture principal amount of debt					50,000,000.0
Term of debt instrument (in years)					3 years
Current fixed interest rate (in hundredths)					3.50%
Amount of loan related to fixed interest rate					39,100,000
Floating interest rate, interest rate basis					LIBOR plus 250 basis points
Current floating interest rate (in hundredths)					2.50%
Amount of loan related to floating interest rate					10,900,000
Number of office properties sold			2
Purchase price of real estate			10,100,000
Closing credits included for free rent			300,000
Net gain on disposition of property			100,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property			400,000
Highwoods KC Glenridge Office, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	40.00%
Joint venture principal amount of debt	14,900,000.0
Current fixed interest rate (in hundredths)	4.84%
Highwoods KC Glenridge Land, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	39.90%
HIW-KC Orlando, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Percentage of equity interest acquired in unconsolidated affiliate (in hundredths)	60.00%
Kessinger Hunter, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	26.50%
Amount of related party transaction	600,000		200,000		1,100,000
Highwoods DLF Forum, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	25.00%
Joint venture principal amount of debt			71,700,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)			5 years
Floating interest rate, interest rate basis			LIBOR plus 190 basis points
Current floating interest rate (in hundredths)			1.90%
Advance to unconsolidated affiliate, scheduled loan maturity date			Nov. 01, 2018
Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Impairments of real estate assets			20,100,000
Gains on disposition of property	1,000,000		100,000		4,900,000
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	22.80%
Number of office properties sold					2
Purchase price of real estate	13,700,000		5,900,000		15,500,000
Closing credits included for free rent	400,000		100,000
Net gain on disposition of property	1,000,000		100,000		4,900,000
Our proportionate share of impairment of assets in discontinued operations			4,500,000		1,000,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property	200,000		100,000		1,100,000
Number of office properties impaired					2
Impairments of real estate assets			20,100,000
4600 Madison Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	12.50%
Highwoods-Markel Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Consolidated Affiliates:
Percentage of equity interest in consolidated affiliates	50.00%
Fair value of noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliate	26,800,000
SF-Harborview Plaza, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Consolidated Affiliates:
Percentage of equity interest in consolidated affiliates	20.00%
Advance to consolidated affiliate					$ 20,800,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)					3 years
Advance to consolidated affiliate, scheduled maturity date					Sep. 30, 2015
Interest rate basis					LIBOR plus 500 basis points
Interest rate, basis spread					5.00%
Interest rate floor					0.50%

[1] Our share of scheduled future principal payments, including amortization, due on mortgages and notes payable at December 31, 2014 is as follows:2015$4,75820161,117201727,122201819,3772019563Thereafter3,875 $56,812 All of this joint venture debt is non-recourse to us except in the case of customary exceptions pertaining to such matters as misuse of funds, environmental conditions, material misrepresentations and voluntary or uncontested involuntary bankruptcy events.