Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per 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
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 154,664us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 152,629us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 152,722us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 148,453us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 148,988us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 144,827us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 132,618us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 130,377us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 608,468us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 556,810us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 485,046us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
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
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	384	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	384	68,374	43,922
Net income	23,585us-gaap_ProfitLoss	54,299us-gaap_ProfitLoss	24,512us-gaap_ProfitLoss	13,576us-gaap_ProfitLoss	31,690us-gaap_ProfitLoss	56,068us-gaap_ProfitLoss	29,579us-gaap_ProfitLoss	13,760us-gaap_ProfitLoss	115,972us-gaap_ProfitLoss	131,097us-gaap_ProfitLoss	84,235us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(729)	(1,673)	(742)	(398)	(978)	(1,889)	(1,243)	(581)	(3,542)	(4,691)	(3,854)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(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)
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
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)	$ 0.24us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.57us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.25us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.13us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.33us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.61us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.33us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.15us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.20us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.44us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.02us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
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)	$ 0.24us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.57us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.25us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.13us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.33us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.61us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.33us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.15us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.19us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.44us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.02us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									(3,542)	(4,691)
Net income available for common stockholders									108,457	122,949	77,087
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	154,664	152,629	152,722	148,453	148,988	144,827	132,618	130,377	608,468	556,810	485,046
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
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	384	12,362	39,460	14,092	2,460	384	68,374	43,922
Net income	23,585	54,299	24,512	13,576	31,690	56,067	29,582	13,707	115,972	131,046	84,295
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(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)
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
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
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

This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group apportioned to the parent that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items after deduction or consideration of the amount which may be allocable to noncontrolling interests, if any. Includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

No definition available.