Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 160,126	[1]	$ 150,766	[1]	$ 148,543	[1]	$ 145,236	[1]	$ 140,724	[1]	$ 139,370	[1]	$ 139,956	[1]	$ 135,821	[1]	$ 604,671	$ 555,871	$ 505,008
Income from continuing operations	19,028	[1]	27,352	[1]	22,221	[1]	16,920	[1]	18,151	[1]	49,483	[1]	20,374	[1]	8,979	[1]	85,521	96,987	42,641
Total income from discontinued operations	2,889	[1]	4,265	[1]	4,670	[1]	3,915	[1]	5,434	[1]	4,816	[1]	4,138	[1]	4,597	[1]	15,739	18,985	88,456
Net income	21,917		31,617		26,891		20,835		23,585		54,299		24,512		13,576		101,260	115,972	131,097
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(622)		(918)		(782)		(596)		(729)		(1,673)		(742)		(398)		(2,918)	(3,542)	(4,691)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(316)		(324)		(328)		(296)		(314)		(291)		(438)		(423)		(1,264)	(1,466)	(949)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(627)		(626)		(626)		(627)		(626)		(627)		(627)		(627)		(2,506)	(2,507)	(2,508)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 20,352		$ 29,749		$ 25,155		$ 19,316		$ 21,916		$ 51,708		$ 22,705		$ 12,128		$ 94,572	$ 108,457	$ 122,949
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.27		$ 0.22		$ 0.17		$ 0.18		$ 0.52		$ 0.21		$ 0.09		$ 0.84	$ 1.00	$ 0.44
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.03		0.04		0.05		0.04		0.06		0.05		0.04		0.04		0.16	0.20	1.00
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.21		0.31		0.27		0.21		0.24		0.57		0.25		0.13		1.00	1.20	1.44
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.18		0.27		0.22		0.17		0.18		0.52		0.21		0.09		0.84	0.99	0.44
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.03		0.04		0.05		0.04		0.06		0.05		0.04		0.04		0.16	0.20	1.00
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21		$ 0.31		$ 0.27		$ 0.21		$ 0.24		$ 0.57		$ 0.25		$ 0.13		$ 1.00	$ 1.19	$ 1.44
Continuing Operations Reconciliation To Previous Reported Amounts [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues, as adjusted	$ 160,126	[1]	$ 150,766	[1]	$ 148,543	[1]	$ 145,236	[1]	$ 140,724	[1]	$ 139,370	[1]	$ 139,956	[1]	$ 135,821	[1]	$ 604,671	$ 555,871	$ 505,008
Income from continuing operations, as adjusted	19,028	[1]	27,352	[1]	22,221	[1]	16,920	[1]	18,151	[1]	49,483	[1]	20,374	[1]	8,979	[1]	85,521	96,987	42,641
Total income from discontinued operations	2,889	[1]	4,265	[1]	4,670	[1]	3,915	[1]	5,434	[1]	4,816	[1]	4,138	[1]	4,597	[1]	15,739	18,985	88,456
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues			150,766		148,543		145,236		140,724		139,370		139,956		135,821
Income from continuing operations			27,352		22,221		16,920		18,151		49,483		20,374		8,979
Total income from discontinued operations			4,265		4,670		3,915		5,434		4,816		4,138		4,597
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership																	(2,918)	(3,542)
Net income available for common stockholders																	94,572	108,457	122,949
Continuing Operations Reconciliation To Previous Reported Amounts [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues, as reported			163,736		161,136		157,310		154,664		152,629		152,722		148,453
Discontinued operations			(12,970)		(12,593)		(12,074)		(13,940)		(13,259)		(12,766)		(12,632)
Rental and other revenues, as adjusted			150,766		148,543		145,236		140,724		139,370		139,956		135,821
Income from continuing operations, as reported			31,617		26,891		20,835		23,585		54,299		24,512		13,192
Discontinued operations			(4,265)		(4,670)		(3,915)		(5,434)		(4,816)		(4,138)		(4,213)
Income from continuing operations, as adjusted			27,352		22,221		16,920		18,151		49,483		20,374		8,979
Income from discontinued operations, as reported			0		0		0		0		0		0		384
Additional discontinued operations from properties sold subsequent to the respective reporting period			4,265		4,670		3,915		5,434		4,816		4,138		4,213
Total income from discontinued operations			4,265		4,670		3,915		5,434		4,816		4,138		4,597
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	160,126	[2]	150,766	[2]	148,543	[2]	145,236	[2]	140,724	[2]	139,370	[2]	139,956	[2]	135,821	[2]	604,671	555,871	505,008
Income from continuing operations	19,028	[2]	27,352	[2]	22,221	[2]	16,920	[2]	18,151	[2]	49,483	[2]	20,374	[2]	8,979	[2]	85,521	96,987	42,590
Total income from discontinued operations	2,889	[2]	4,265	[2]	4,670	[2]	3,915	[2]	5,434	[2]	4,816	[2]	4,138	[2]	4,597	[2]	15,739	18,985	88,456
Net income	21,917		31,617		26,891		20,835		23,585		54,299		24,512		13,576		101,260	115,972	131,046
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(316)		(324)		(328)		(296)		(314)		(291)		(438)		(423)		(1,264)	(1,466)	(949)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(627)		(626)		(626)		(627)		(626)		(627)		(627)		(627)		(2,506)	(2,507)	(2,508)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 20,974		$ 30,667		$ 25,937		$ 19,912		$ 22,645		$ 53,381		$ 23,447		$ 12,526		$ 97,490	$ 111,999	$ 127,589
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.27		$ 0.22		$ 0.17		$ 0.18		$ 0.52		$ 0.21		$ 0.09		$ 0.84	$ 1.00	$ 0.44
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.03		0.05		0.05		0.04		0.06		0.05		0.04		0.05		0.17	0.20	1.00
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.21		0.32		0.27		0.21		0.24		0.57		0.25		0.14		1.01	1.20	1.44
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.18		0.27		0.22		0.17		0.18		0.52		0.21		0.09		0.84	1.00	0.44
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.03		0.05		0.05		0.04		0.06		0.05		0.04		0.05		0.17	0.20	1.00
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21		$ 0.32		$ 0.27		$ 0.21		$ 0.24		$ 0.57		$ 0.25		$ 0.14		$ 1.01	$ 1.20	$ 1.44
Continuing Operations Reconciliation To Previous Reported Amounts [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues, as reported			$ 163,736		$ 161,136		$ 157,310		$ 154,664		$ 152,629		$ 152,722		$ 148,453
Discontinued operations			(12,970)		(12,593)		(12,074)		(13,940)		(13,259)		(12,766)		(12,632)
Rental and other revenues, as adjusted	$ 160,126	[2]	150,766	[2]	148,543	[2]	145,236	[2]	140,724	[2]	139,370	[2]	139,956	[2]	135,821	[2]	$ 604,671	$ 555,871	$ 505,008
Income from continuing operations, as reported			31,617		26,891		20,835		23,585		54,299		24,512		13,192
Discontinued operations			(4,265)		(4,670)		(3,915)		(5,434)		(4,816)		(4,138)		(4,213)
Income from continuing operations, as adjusted	19,028	[2]	27,352	[2]	22,221	[2]	16,920	[2]	18,151	[2]	49,483	[2]	20,374	[2]	8,979	[2]	85,521	96,987	42,590
Income from discontinued operations, as reported			0		0		0		0		0		0		384
Additional discontinued operations from properties sold subsequent to the respective reporting period			4,265		4,670		3,915		5,434		4,816		4,138		4,213
Total income from discontinued operations	$ 2,889	[2]	$ 4,265	[2]	$ 4,670	[2]	$ 3,915	[2]	$ 5,434	[2]	$ 4,816	[2]	$ 4,138	[2]	$ 4,597	[2]	$ 15,739	$ 18,985	$ 88,456

[1] As a result of discontinued operations, the amounts presented may not equal the amounts previously reported in the most recent Form 10-Qs or prior 10-K for each period. Below is a reconciliation to the amounts previously reported: Quarter Ended March 31, June 30, September 30, 2015 2015 2015Rental and other revenues, as reported$157,310 $161,136 $163,736Discontinued operations(12,074) (12,593) (12,970)Rental and other revenues, as adjusted$145,236 $148,543 $150,766Income from continuing operations, as reported$20,835 $26,891 $31,617Discontinued operations(3,915) (4,670) (4,265)Income from continuing operations, as adjusted$16,920 $22,221 $27,352Income from discontinued operations, as reported$— $— $—Additional discontinued operations from properties sold subsequent to the respective reporting period3,915 4,670 4,265Income from discontinued operations, as adjusted$3,915 $4,670 $4,265 Quarter Ended March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31, 2014 2014 2014 2014Rental and other revenues, as reported$148,453 $152,722 $152,629 $154,664Discontinued operations(12,632) (12,766) (13,259) (13,940)Rental and other revenues, as adjusted$135,821 $139,956 $139,370 $140,724Income from continuing operations, as reported$13,192 $24,512 $54,299 $23,585Discontinued operations(4,213) (4,138) (4,816) (5,434)Income from continuing operations, as adjusted$8,979 $20,374 $49,483 $18,151Income from discontinued operations, as reported$384 $— $— $—Additional discontinued operations from properties sold subsequent to the respective reporting period4,213 4,138 4,816 5,434Income from discontinued operations, as adjusted$4,597 $4,138 $4,816 $5,434

[2] As a result of discontinued operations, the amounts presented may not equal the amounts previously reported in the most recent Form 10-Qs or prior 10-K for each period. Below is a reconciliation to the amounts previously reported: Quarter Ended March 31, June 30, September 30, 2015 2015 2015Rental and other revenues, as reported$157,310 $161,136 $163,736Discontinued operations(12,074) (12,593) (12,970)Rental and other revenues, as adjusted$145,236 $148,543 $150,766Income from continuing operations, as reported$20,835 $26,891 $31,617Discontinued operations(3,915) (4,670) (4,265)Income from continuing operations, as adjusted$16,920 $22,221 $27,352Income from discontinued operations, as reported$— $— $—Additional discontinued operations from properties sold subsequent to the respective reporting period3,915 4,670 4,265Income from discontinued operations, as adjusted$3,915 $4,670 $4,265 Quarter Ended March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31, 2014 2014 2014 2014Rental and other revenues, as reported$148,453 $152,722 $152,629 $154,664Discontinued operations(12,632) (12,766) (13,259) (13,940)Rental and other revenues, as adjusted$135,821 $139,956 $139,370 $140,724Income from continuing operations, as reported$13,192 $24,512 $54,299 $23,585Discontinued operations(4,213) (4,138) (4,816) (5,434)Income from continuing operations, as adjusted$8,979 $20,374 $49,483 $18,151Income from discontinued operations, as reported$384 $— $— $—Additional discontinued operations from properties sold subsequent to the respective reporting period4,213 4,138 4,816 5,434Income from discontinued operations, as adjusted$4,597 $4,138 $4,816 $5,434