Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Minimum dividend required to maintain REIT status	$ 1.31	$ 1.13	$ 1.08
Tax basis of assets	$ 4,200,000	$ 3,600,000
Tax basis of liabilities	2,600,000	2,200,000
Income Tax Expense/(Benefit) [Abstract]
Current federal tax expense	949	1,480	$ 60
Current state tax expense	351	161	312
Current tax expense	1,300	1,641	372
Deferred federal tax expense/(benefit)	(233)	(1,628)	1,479
Deferred state tax expense/(benefit)	(115)	(305)	277
Deferred tax expense/(benefit)	(348)	(1,933)	1,756
Total income tax expense/(benefit)	434	(292)	407
Net deferred tax assets		100
Net deferred tax liabilities	(200)
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates [Member]
Income Tax Expense/(Benefit) [Abstract]
Income tax expense netted against gain	0	0	(1,721)
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Disposition of Wholly Owned Property [Member]
Income Tax Expense/(Benefit) [Abstract]
Income tax expense netted against gain	(518)	0	$ 0
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Tax basis of assets	4,200,000	3,600,000
Tax basis of liabilities	$ 2,600,000	$ 2,200,000