XML 39 R50.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 executives customers property acre sqft | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
In-service office, industrial and retail properties (in units) | 301 |  |
Square footage of commercial property (in sq feet) | 29,687,000 |  |
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) | 649.0 |  |
Undeveloped land considered core holdings (in acres) | 566 |  |
Number of wholly owned office properties under development (in units) | 1 |  |
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures maximum | 50.00% |  |
Number of real estate properties not wholly owned (in units) | 32 |  |
Number of rental residential properties under development not wholly owned (in units) | 1 |  |
Area of undeveloped land not wholly owned (in acres) | 11 |  |
Ownership interest in unconsolidated property directly owned by the Company | 12.50% |  |
Square footage of unconsolidated property directly owned by the Company (in sq feet) | 261,000 |  |
Consolidated in-service office properties not wholly owned (in units) | 5 |  |
Common Units of partnership owned (in shares) | 79,900,000 |  |
Percentage of ownership of Common Units | 95.60% | 95.10% |
Number of directors of the Company who are also limited partners | 2 |  |
Common Units of partnership not owned by the Company (in shares) | 3,700,000 |  |
Number of common units required to convert to one share of common stock (in shares) | 1 |  |
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |
Number of trading days preceeding Redemption Notice Date (in days) | 10 days |  |
Common units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares) | 63,366 |  |
Common Units issued to acquire real estate assets (in shares) | 66,864 |  |
Real estate assets, depreciation expense | $ 128,971 | $ 120,812 | $ 117,639
Maturity of highly liquid investments (in months) | 3 months |  |
Percent of annual REIT taxable income required to pay to the Company's stockholders | 90.00% |  |
Customers with leases on wholly owned properties | 1,711 |  |
Percent of annualized cash rental revenue derived from geographic locations | 10.00% |  |
Limit of consolidated revenue generated by any single customer | 10.00% |  |
Adjustment interval of variable debt interest rates, mimimum (in months) | 1 month |  |
Adjustment interval of variable debt interest rates, maximum (in months) | 3 months |  |
Building [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 40 years |  |
Building Improvements [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 15 years |  |
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 5 years |  |
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 7 years |  |
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 3 years |  |
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 10 years |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
In-service office, industrial and retail properties (in units) | 301 |  |
Square footage of commercial property (in sq feet) | 29,687,000 |  |
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) | 649.0 |  |
Undeveloped land considered core holdings (in acres) | 566 |  |
Number of wholly owned office properties under development (in units) | 1 |  |
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures maximum | 50.00% |  |
Number of real estate properties not wholly owned (in units) | 32 |  |
Number of rental residential properties under development not wholly owned (in units) | 1 |  |
Area of undeveloped land not wholly owned (in acres) | 11 |  |
Ownership interest in unconsolidated property directly owned by the Company | 12.50% |  |
Square footage of unconsolidated property directly owned by the Company (in sq feet) | 261,000 |  |
Consolidated in-service office properties not wholly owned (in units) | 5 |  |
Common Units of partnership owned (in shares) | 79,900,000 |  |
Percentage of ownership of Common Units | 95.60% | 95.10% |
Number of directors of the Company who are also limited partners | 2 |  |
Common Units of partnership not owned by the Company (in shares) | 3,700,000 |  |
Number of common units required to convert to one share of common stock (in shares) | 1 |  |
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ 0.01 |  |
Number of trading days preceeding Redemption Notice Date (in days) | 10 days |  |
Common units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares) | 63,366 |  |
Common Units issued to acquire real estate assets (in shares) | 66,864 |  |
Real estate assets, depreciation expense | $ 129,000 | $ 120,800 | $ 117,600
Maturity of highly liquid investments (in months) | 3 months |  |
Percent of annual REIT taxable income required to pay to the Company's stockholders | 90.00% |  |
Customers with leases on wholly owned properties | 1,711 |  |
Percent of annualized cash rental revenue derived from geographic locations | 10.00% |  |
Limit of consolidated revenue generated by any single customer | 10.00% |  |
Adjustment interval of variable debt interest rates, mimimum (in months) | 1 month |  |
Adjustment interval of variable debt interest rates, maximum (in months) | 3 months |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Building [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 40 years |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Building Improvements [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 15 years |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 5 years |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 7 years |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 3 years |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average | 10 years |  |

X
- Definition Area of undeveloped land parcels owned in acres. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_AreaOfUndevelopedLand
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:areaItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Area of undeveloped land parcels owned in acres, considered core holdings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_AreaOfUndevelopedLandCore
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:areaItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Area of undeveloped land parcels owned by unconsolidated affiliates in acres + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_AreaOfUndevelopedLandNotWhollyOwned
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:areaItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of common units issued by the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_CommonUnitsOfPartnershipIssued
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of units not held by the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_CommonUnitsOfPartnershipNotOwned
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of units held by the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_CommonUnitsOfPartnershipOwned
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The percentage of units held by the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_CommonUnitsPercentageInvestmentOfPartnershipOwned
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | hiw_DescriptionOfBusinessAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of consolidated revenue deemed significant that is generated by any single customer in our wholly owned portfolio. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_LimitOfConsolidatedRevenueGeneratedByAnySingleCustomer
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum adjustment interval in number of months of variable debt interest rates. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_MaximumAdjustmentIntervalForVariableInterestRates
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Period of maximum original maturity of highly liquid investments classified as cash equivalents, disclosed in months. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_MaximumOriginalMaturityOfLiquidInvestmentsClassifiedAsCash
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Minimum adjustment interval in number of months of variable debt interest rates. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_MinimumAdjustmentIntervalForVariableInterestRates
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Minimum percent of annual REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gains, that is required to pay to stockholders to maintain qualification as a REIT. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_MinimumPercentageOfTaxableIncomeRequiredToBeDistributedToMaintainReitStatus
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure of the number of customers in our Wholly Owned portfolio. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_NumberOfCustomers
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of directors who are also limited partners of the Operating Partnership + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_NumberOfDirectorLimitedPartners
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of consolidated in-service office properties not wholly owned. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesConsolidatedNotWhollyOwned
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of real estate properties owned by unconsolidated affiliates as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesNotWhollyOwned
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of rental residential properties under/planned for development not wholly owned as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_NumberOfRentalResidentialPropertiesUnderDevelopmentNotWhollyOwned
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of trading days immediately preceding the redemption notice date used to calculate value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_NumberOfTradingDaysPrecedingRedemptionNoticeDate
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of wholly owned office properties under/planned for development as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_NumberOfWhollyOwnedOfficePropertiesUnderDevelopment
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of common units required to convert to one share of common stock. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_OpUnitConversionRate
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Ownership interest in an unconsolidated property directly owned by the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_PercentageOfEquityInterestInJointVentureNotOwnedByOperatingPartership
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_PercentageOfEquityInterestInJointVenturesMaximum
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The percentage of revenue by geographic area that is deemed significant for reporting concentration of credit risk. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_PercentageOfRevenueByGeographicAreaDeemedSignificantConcentrationOfCreditRisk
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Square footage of an unconsolidated property directly owned by the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_SquareFootageOfRealEstatePropertyNotOwnedByOperatingPartnership
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:areaItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of square footage related to real estate property wholly owned. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_SquareFootageOfRealEstatePropertyWhollyOwned
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | num:areaItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Face amount or stated value of common stock per share; generally not indicative of the fair market value per share. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of shares converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 32 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesConverted1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of depreciation expense for the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 970 -SubTopic 360 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28.FN4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph c -Subparagraph Schedule III -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 28 -Article 12 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule III) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882300&loc=d3e5864-122674 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstateAccumulatedDepreciationDepreciationExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration