Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 39,554	$ 33,528	$ 73,039	$ 61,670
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(1,043)	(939)	(1,931)	(1,685)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(299)	(314)	(599)	(622)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(627)	(1,246)	(1,253)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	37,589	31,648	69,263	58,110
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	418,593
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	0	0	0	(12,265)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	0	0	406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 37,589	$ 31,648	$ 69,263	$ 464,438
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	102,475	97,648	102,109	97,010
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.32	$ 0.68	$ 0.60
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.19
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.32	$ 0.68	$ 4.79
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 39,554	$ 33,528	$ 73,039	$ 61,670
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(299)	(314)	(599)	(622)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(627)	(1,246)	(1,253)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	38,632	32,587	71,194	59,795
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 38,632	$ 32,587	$ 71,194	$ 478,388
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	102,475	97,648	102,109	97,010
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	77	90	81	87
Noncontrolling interests Common Units (in shares)	2,834	2,890	2,836	2,895
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	105,386	100,628	105,026	99,992
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.32	$ 0.68	$ 0.60
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.18
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.32	$ 0.68	$ 4.78
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 39,554	$ 33,528	$ 73,039	$ 61,670
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(299)	(314)	(599)	(622)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(627)	(1,246)	(1,253)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	38,632	32,587	71,194	59,795
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 38,632	$ 32,587	$ 71,194	$ 478,388
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	104,900	100,129	104,536	99,496
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.33	$ 0.68	$ 0.60
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.21
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.33	$ 0.68	$ 4.81
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 39,554	$ 33,528	$ 73,039	$ 61,670
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(299)	(314)	(599)	(622)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(627)	(1,246)	(1,253)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	38,632	32,587	71,194	59,795
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 38,632	$ 32,587	$ 71,194	$ 478,388
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	104,900	100,129	104,536	99,496
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	77	90	81	87
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	104,977	100,219	104,617	99,583
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.33	$ 0.68	$ 0.60
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.20
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.33	$ 0.68	$ 4.80