Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Rental and other revenues		$ 665,634		$ 604,671	$ 555,871
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses		231,085		215,941	205,884
Depreciation and amortization		220,140		201,918	180,637
Impairments of real estate assets		0		0	588
General and administrative		38,153		37,642	35,258
Total operating expenses		489,378		455,501	422,367
Interest expense:
Contractual		73,142		82,245	82,287
Amortization of debt issuance costs		3,506		3,645	3,082
Financing obligation		0		162	(242)
Total interest expense		76,648		86,052	85,127
Other income:
Interest and other income		2,338		1,969	2,739
Losses on debt extinguishment		0		(243)	(308)
Total other income		2,338		1,726	2,431
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates		101,946		64,844	50,808
Gains on disposition of property		14,807		11,444	44,352
Gain on disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliate		0		4,155	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		5,793		5,078	1,827
Income from continuing operations		122,546		85,521	96,987
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations		4,097		15,739	18,601
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations		414,496		0	384
Total income from discontinued operations		418,593	[1]	15,739	18,985
Net income		541,139		101,260	115,972
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		(15,596)		(2,918)	(3,542)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(1,253)		(1,264)	(1,466)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(2,501)		(2,506)	(2,507)
Net income available for common stockholders		$ 521,789		$ 94,572	$ 108,457
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 1.17		$ 0.84	$ 1.00
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		4.13		0.16	0.20
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 5.30		$ 1.00	$ 1.20
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)		98,439		94,404	90,743
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 1.17		$ 0.84	$ 0.99
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		4.13		0.16	0.20
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 5.30		$ 1.00	$ 1.19
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	[2]	101,398		97,406	93,800
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders		$ 115,461		$ 79,308	$ 90,069
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders		406,328		15,264	18,388
Net income available for common stockholders		521,789		94,572	108,457
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues		665,634		604,671	555,871
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses		231,085		215,941	205,835
Depreciation and amortization		220,140		201,918	180,637
Impairments of real estate assets		0		0	588
General and administrative		38,153		37,642	35,307
Total operating expenses		489,378		455,501	422,367
Interest expense:
Contractual		73,142		82,245	82,287
Amortization of debt issuance costs		3,506		3,645	3,082
Financing obligation		0		162	(242)
Total interest expense		76,648		86,052	85,127
Other income:
Interest and other income		2,338		1,969	2,739
Losses on debt extinguishment		0		(243)	(308)
Total other income		2,338		1,726	2,431
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates		101,946		64,844	50,808
Gains on disposition of property		14,807		11,444	44,352
Gain on disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliate		0		4,155	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		5,793		5,078	1,827
Income from continuing operations		122,546		85,521	96,987
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations		4,097		15,739	18,601
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations		414,496		0	384
Total income from discontinued operations		418,593	[1]	15,739	18,985
Net income		541,139		101,260	115,972
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(1,253)		(1,264)	(1,466)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(2,501)		(2,506)	(2,507)
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 537,385		$ 97,490	$ 111,999
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 1.18		$ 0.84	$ 1.00
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		4.15		0.17	0.20
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 5.33		$ 1.01	$ 1.20
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)		100,902		96,910	93,272
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 1.18		$ 0.84	$ 1.00
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		4.14		0.17	0.20
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 5.32		$ 1.01	$ 1.20
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	[3]	100,989		96,997	93,391
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		$ 118,792		$ 81,751	$ 93,014
Total income from discontinued operations		418,593	[1]	15,739	18,985
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 537,385		$ 97,490	$ 111,999

[1] See Note 2 for a discussion regarding the sales of the Plaza assets.

[2] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

[3] Includes all unvested restricted stock where distributions on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.