Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period	$ 256,380		$ 125,537	$ 112,624
Number of trading days preceeding Redemption Notice Date (in days)	10 days
Future distribution of Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06
Dividends, Common Stock [Abstract]
Ordinary income	1.15	[1]	$ 1.50	$ 1.31
Capital gains	1.29	[1]	0.13	0.29
Return of capital	0.00	[1]	0.07	0.10
Total taxability of dividends per share	$ 2.44	[1]	$ 1.70	1.70
Dividends, Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Number of shares outstanding, Preferred Stock (in shares)	28,920		29,050
Carrying value, Preferred Stock	$ 28,920		$ 29,050
Liquidation preference per share, Preferred Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000		$ 1,000
Warrants [Abstract]
Warrants to acquire Common Stock/Units, outstanding	15,000		15,000
Exercise price of outstanding warrants	$ 32.50		$ 32.50
Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]
Dividends, Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Ordinary income	40.65		79.23	70.41
Capital gains	45.60		7.02	15.84
Total taxability of dividends per share	$ 86.25		$ 86.25	86.25
Issuance date, Preferred Stock/Unit	Feb. 12, 1997		Feb. 12, 1997
Liquidation preference per share, Preferred Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000		$ 1,000
Optional redemption date, Preferred Stock/Unit	Feb. 12, 2027		Feb. 12, 2027
Annual dividends payable per share, Preferred Stock/Unit (in dollars per share)	$ 86.25		$ 86.25	86.25
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Possible future share issuance authorized under charter	98,300,000
Dividends declared per share of Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 2.50		$ 1.70	1.70
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | ATM Equity Offering [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of Common Stock sold during the period (in shares)	5,078,940		2,922,905
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period	$ 246,200		$ 124,900
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Special Dividend [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share of Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Distributions declared per share of Common Unit (in dollars per share)	$ 2.50		$ 1.70	$ 1.70
Dividends, Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Number of units outstanding, Preferred Units (in shares)	28,920		29,050
Carrying value, Preferred units	$ 28,920		$ 29,050
Liquidation preference per unit, Preferred Units (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000		$ 1,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]
Dividends, Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Total taxability of dividends per share	$ 86.25		$ 86.25
Issuance date, Preferred Stock/Unit	Feb. 12, 1997		Feb. 12, 1997
Liquidation preference per unit, Preferred Units (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000		$ 1,000
Optional redemption date, Preferred Stock/Unit	Feb. 12, 2027		Feb. 12, 2027
Annual dividends payable per share, Preferred Stock/Unit (in dollars per share)	$ 86.25		$ 86.25
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Special Dividend [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Distributions declared per share of Common Unit (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80

[1] During 2016, cash dividends declared on Common Stock totaled $2.50 per share, of which approximately $0.06 will be recognized as a 2017 distribution for federal income tax purposes.