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Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013 jointventure property customers sqft acre | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate (in square feet) | 32,236,000 |  |
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate under development (in square feet) | 852,000 |  |
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) | 600 |  |
Number of common units required to convert to one share of common stock (in shares) | 1 |  |
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) | 789,144 |  |
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum | 50.00% |  |
Consolidated in-service office properties not wholly owned (in units) | 5 |  |
Number of joint ventures that have consolidated properties | 2 |  |
Real estate assets, depreciation expense | $ 138,163 | $ 118,223 | $ 106,785
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 | 1,793 |  |
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 | 40 years |  |
Building Improvements [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 15 years |  |
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 5 years |  |
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 7 years |  |
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 3 years |  |
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 10 years |  |
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Common Units of partnership owned (in shares) | 89,500,000 |  |
Percentage of ownership of Common Units | 96.80% | 95.60% |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Common Units of partnership not owned by the Company (in shares) | 2,900,000 |  |

X
- Definition Area of undeveloped land parcels owned in acres. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of units not held by the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of units held by the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage of consolidated revenue deemed significant that is generated by any single customer in our wholly owned portfolio. + References No definition available. + Details
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- 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
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