Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Minimum dividend required to maintain REIT status	$ 0.99	$ 1.31	$ 1.13
Tax basis of assets	$ 4,000,000	$ 4,200,000
Tax basis of liabilities	2,300,000	2,600,000
Income Tax Expense/(Benefit) [Abstract]
Current federal tax expense/(benefit)	(38)	949	$ 1,480
Current state tax expense	89	351	161
Current tax expense	51	1,300	1,641
Deferred federal tax benefit	(160)	(233)	(1,628)
Deferred state tax expense/(benefit)	87	(115)	(305)
Deferred tax benefit	(73)	(348)	(1,933)
Total income tax expense/(benefit)	(22)	434	(292)
Net deferred tax liabilities	100	200
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Disposition of Wholly Owned Property [Member]
Income Tax Expense/(Benefit) [Abstract]
Income tax expense netted against gain	0	(518)	$ 0
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Tax basis of assets	4,000,000	4,200,000
Tax basis of liabilities	$ 2,300,000	$ 2,600,000