XML 96 R69.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Minimum dividend required to maintain REIT status | $ 1.08 | $ 1.07 | $ 1.01
Tax basis of assets | 3,400,000,000 | 2,900,000,000 |
Tax basis of liabilities | 2,100,000,000 | 2,000,000,000 |
Deferred tax asset for cumulative tax loss carryforwards |  | 2,100,000 |
Net deferred tax liabilities | 1,800,000 | 2,200,000 |
Income tax expense incurred by taxable REIT subsidiary | 2,100,000 |  |
Taxes incurred by taxable REIT subsidiary related to disposition | 1,700,000 |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] |  |  |
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax basis of assets | 3,400,000,000 | 2,900,000,000 |
Tax basis of liabilities | $ 2,100,000,000 | $ 2,000,000,000 |

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

X
- Definition Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit), including continuing and discontinued operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitTotalOperations
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The basis of liabilities for federal income tax purposes. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_LiabilitiesFederalIncomeTaxBasis
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The minimum dividend per share required to maintain REIT status. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hiw_MinimumDividendRequired
Namespace Prefix: | hiw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of deferred income tax expense (benefit) and income tax credits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 24 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=32706628&loc=d3e11374-113907 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible operating loss carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29652012&loc=d3e28680-109314 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from property, plant, and equipment. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29652012&loc=d3e28680-109314 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Cost basis of real estate investments for federal income tax purposes for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate. + References Reference 1: 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=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 28 -Article 12 Reference 3: 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 4: 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.FN6) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstateFederalIncomeTaxBasis
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant