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Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2012 executives acre properties sqft property | Jun. 30, 2012 executives acre properties sqft property | Dec. 31, 2011
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
In-service office, industrial and retail properties (in units) | 304 | 304 |
Square footage of commercial property (in sq feet) | 29,517,000 | 29,517,000 |
Residential condominiums for sale (in units) | 9 | 9 |
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) | 581 | 581 |
Undeveloped land considered core holdings (in acres) | 518 | 518 |
Office properties under/planned for development (in units) | 1 | 1 |
Common Units of partnership owned (in shares) | 75,200,000 | 75,200,000 |
Percentage of ownership of Common Units | 95.30% | 95.30% | 95.10%
Number of officers of the Company who are also limited partners | 1 | 1 |
Number of directors of the Company who are also limited partners | 2 | 2 |
Common Units of partnership not owned by the Company (in shares) | 3,700,000 | 3,700,000 |
Number of common units required to convert to one share of common stock (in shares) | 1 | 1 |
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01
Number of trading days preceding Redemption Notice Date (in days) |  | 10 days |
Common units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares) |  | 18,366 |
Number of Common Stock sold at the market during period (in shares) | 1,836,976 | 2,622,476 |
Average price of Common Stock sold at the market during period (in dollars per share) | $ 33.72 | $ 33.45 |
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold at the market during period | $ 61.0 | $ 86.4 |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
In-service office, industrial and retail properties (in units) | 304 | 304 |
Square footage of commercial property (in sq feet) | 29,517,000 | 29,517,000 |
Residential condominiums for sale (in units) | 9 | 9 |
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) | 581 | 581 |
Undeveloped land considered core holdings (in acres) | 518 | 518 |
Office properties under/planned for development (in units) | 1 | 1 |
Common Units of partnership owned (in shares) | 75,200,000 | 75,200,000 |
Percentage of ownership of Common Units | 95.30% | 95.30% | 95.10%
Number of officers of the Company who are also limited partners | 1 | 1 |
Number of directors of the Company who are also limited partners | 2 | 2 |
Common Units of partnership not owned by the Company (in shares) | 3,700,000 | 3,700,000 |
Number of common units required to convert to one share of common stock (in shares) | 1 | 1 |
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |
Number of trading days preceding Redemption Notice Date (in days) |  | 10 days |
Common units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares) |  | 18,366 |
Number of Common Stock sold at the market during period (in shares) | 1,836,976 | 2,622,476 |
Average price of Common Stock sold at the market during period (in dollars per share) | $ 33.72 | $ 33.45 |
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold at the market during period | $ 61.0 | $ 86.4 |

X
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