Earnings Per Share/Unit (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 23,585	$ 54,299	$ 24,512	$ 13,192	$ 19,328	$ 16,608	$ 15,487	$ 11,300	$ 115,588		$ 62,723		$ 40,313
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations									(3,530)		(2,185)		(1,767)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(314)	(291)	(438)	(423)	(356)	(203)	(187)	(203)	(1,466)		(949)		(786)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(626)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(2,507)		(2,508)		(2,508)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders									108,085		57,081		35,252
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	384	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	384		68,374		43,922
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations									(12)		(2,506)		(2,087)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders									372		65,868		41,835
Net income available for common stockholders	21,916	51,708	22,705	12,128	29,729	53,349	27,522	12,349	108,457		122,949		77,087
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									90,743,000		85,335,000		75,811,000
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.57	$ 0.25	$ 0.13	$ 0.20	$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 1.20		$ 0.67		$ 0.47
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)					$ 0.13	$ 0.44	$ 0.16	$ 0.03	$ 0.00		$ 0.77		$ 0.55
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.57	$ 0.25	$ 0.13	$ 0.33	$ 0.61	$ 0.33	$ 0.15	$ 1.20		$ 1.44		$ 1.02
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	23,585	54,299	24,512	13,192	19,328	16,608	15,487	11,300	115,588		62,723		40,313
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(314)	(291)	(438)	(423)	(356)	(203)	(187)	(203)	(1,466)		(949)		(786)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(626)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(2,507)		(2,508)		(2,508)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									111,615		59,266		37,019
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	384	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	384		68,374		43,922
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									111,999		127,640		80,941
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									90,743,000		85,335,000		75,811,000
Stock options using the treasury method									119,000		114,000		122,000
Noncontrolling interests Common Units									2,938,000		3,387,000		3,745,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares) (1) (2)									93,800,000	[1],[2]	88,836,000	[1],[2]	79,678,000	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.57	$ 0.25	$ 0.13	$ 0.20	$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 1.19		$ 0.67		$ 0.47
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)					$ 0.13	$ 0.44	$ 0.16	$ 0.03	$ 0.00		$ 0.77		$ 0.55
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.57	$ 0.25	$ 0.13	$ 0.33	$ 0.61	$ 0.33	$ 0.15	$ 1.19		$ 1.44		$ 1.02
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)											300,000		500,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	23,585	54,299	24,512	13,192	19,328	16,607	15,490	11,247	115,588		62,672		40,373
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(314)	(291)	(438)	(423)	(356)	(203)	(187)	(203)	(1,466)		(949)		(786)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(626)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(2,507)		(2,508)		(2,508)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders									111,615		59,215		37,079
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	0	0	384	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	384		68,374		43,922
Net income available for common unitholders	22,645	53,381	23,447	12,526	30,707	55,237	28,768	12,877	111,999		127,589		81,001
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									93,272,000		88,313,000		79,147,000
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.57	$ 0.25	$ 0.13	$ 0.20	$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 1.20		$ 0.67		$ 0.47
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.01	$ 0.13	$ 0.44	$ 0.16	$ 0.03	$ 0.00		$ 0.77		$ 0.55
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.57	$ 0.25	$ 0.14	$ 0.33	$ 0.61	$ 0.33	$ 0.15	$ 1.20		$ 1.44		$ 1.02
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	23,585	54,299	24,512	13,192	19,328	16,607	15,490	11,247	115,588		62,672		40,373
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(314)	(291)	(438)	(423)	(356)	(203)	(187)	(203)	(1,466)		(949)		(786)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(626)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(627)	(2,507)		(2,508)		(2,508)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders									111,615		59,215		37,079
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	0	0	384	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	384		68,374		43,922
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 22,645	$ 53,381	$ 23,447	$ 12,526	$ 30,707	$ 55,237	$ 28,768	$ 12,877	$ 111,999		$ 127,589		$ 81,001
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									93,272,000		88,313,000		79,147,000
Stock options using the treasury method									119,000		114,000		122,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares) (1) (2)									93,391,000	[1],[2]	88,427,000	[1],[2]	79,269,000	[1],[2]
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.57	$ 0.25	$ 0.13	$ 0.20	$ 0.17	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 1.20		$ 0.67		$ 0.47
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.01	$ 0.13	$ 0.44	$ 0.16	$ 0.03	$ 0.00		$ 0.77		$ 0.55
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.57	$ 0.25	$ 0.14	$ 0.33	$ 0.61	$ 0.33	$ 0.15	$ 1.20		$ 1.44		$ 1.02
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in dollars per share)											300,000		500,000

[1] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

[2] There were 0.3 million and 0.5 million options outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive. There were no such options outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2014.