Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Rental and other revenues	$ 180,185	$ 166,269	$ 526,876	$ 497,988
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	61,234	58,620	177,484	173,715
Depreciation and amortization	56,973	52,923	168,934	161,734
Impairments of real estate assets	1,445	0	1,445	0
General and administrative	9,247	9,863	29,787	29,327
Total operating expenses	128,899	121,406	377,650	364,776
Interest expense:
Contractual	16,395	17,722	48,763	56,111
Amortization of debt issuance costs	796	844	2,445	2,645
Total interest expense	17,191	18,566	51,208	58,756
Other income:
Interest and other income	558	833	1,806	1,884
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	0	826	0
Total other income	558	833	2,632	1,884
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	34,653	27,130	100,650	76,340
Gains on disposition of property	19,849	3,902	25,181	14,160
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	5,047	2,808	6,757	5,010
Income from continuing operations	59,549	33,840	132,588	95,510
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	0	414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	418,593
Net income	59,549	33,840	132,588	514,103
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,571)	(926)	(3,502)	(14,876)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 57,040	$ 31,971	$ 126,303	$ 496,409
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.16
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 5.08
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	103,237	98,973	102,489	97,669
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.16
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 5.08
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,145	101,939	105,402	100,645
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.440	$ 0.425	$ 1.320	$ 1.275
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	$ 57,040	$ 31,971	$ 126,303	$ 90,081
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	0	0	406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	57,040	31,971	126,303	496,409
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	180,185	166,269	526,876	497,988
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	61,234	58,620	177,484	173,715
Depreciation and amortization	56,973	52,923	168,934	161,734
Impairments of real estate assets	1,445	0	1,445	0
General and administrative	9,247	9,863	29,787	29,327
Total operating expenses	128,899	121,406	377,650	364,776
Interest expense:
Contractual	16,395	17,722	48,763	56,111
Amortization of debt issuance costs	796	844	2,445	2,645
Total interest expense	17,191	18,566	51,208	58,756
Other income:
Interest and other income	558	833	1,806	1,884
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	0	826	0
Total other income	558	833	2,632	1,884
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	34,653	27,130	100,650	76,340
Gains on disposition of property	19,849	3,902	25,181	14,160
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	5,047	2,808	6,757	5,010
Income from continuing operations	59,549	33,840	132,588	95,510
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	0	414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	418,593
Net income	59,549	33,840	132,588	514,103
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 511,285
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 0.93
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.18
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 5.11
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	105,660	101,422	104,914	100,142
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.18
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 5.10
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	105,736	101,530	104,993	100,236
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.440	$ 0.425	$ 1.320	$ 1.275
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 511,285