<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-06-036765
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20060208
<FILING-DATE>20060615
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060615
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FRITSCH EDWARD J
<CIK>0001249392
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-13100
<FILM-NUMBER>06907386
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES
<STREET2>3100 SMOKETREE CT #600
<CITY>RALEIGH
<STATE>NC
<ZIP>27604
<PHONE>9198724924
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INC
<CIK>0000921082
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6798
<IRS-NUMBER>561871668
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MD
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3100 SMOKETREE CT
<STREET2>STE 600
<CITY>RALEIGH
<STATE>NC
<ZIP>27604
<PHONE>9198724924
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3100 SMOKETREE COURT
<STREET2>STE 600
<CITY>RALEIGH
<STATE>NC
<ZIP>27604
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921082</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HIW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249392</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRITSCH EDWARD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3100 SMOKETREE COURT, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RALEIGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27604</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.37</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>72865</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>72865</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>72865</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">SEC rules have prohibited us from issuing shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options under our Form S-8 registration statement since the beginning of 2005 because of the delay in filing our SEC reports.  As a result, upon the recommendation of our compensation and governance committee, the expiration date of these options has effectively been tolled.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options were originally granted and exercisable on 1/2/1996.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Stock option grant was approved 03/31/2006. Vesting is based on 03/01/2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The exercise price is an average of the stock's closing price during a 10-day period prior to the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Option vests ratably on the first through fourth anniversaries of grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Stock options are granted by the Company and not purchased by the reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Mack D. Pridgen, III for Edward J. Fritsch</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
