Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Feb. 01, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	COUSINS PROPERTIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000025232
Document Type	10-K
Document Ending Period Date	Dec. 31, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Year Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 3,615,199,650
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		419,989,466