Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 485,956	$ 474,375
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,590,490	4,313,373
Development in-process	88,452	279,602
Land held for development	74,765	77,355
Total real estate assets	5,239,663	5,144,705
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,202,424)	(1,134,103)
Net real estate assets	4,037,239	4,010,602
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	14,118	0
Cash and cash equivalents	3,272	49,490
Restricted cash	85,061	29,141
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $753 and $624, respectively	24,397	17,372
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $72 and $105, respectively	6,425	8,833
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $819 and $692, respectively	200,131	172,829
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,897	18,846
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $143,512 and $140,081, respectively	200,679	213,500
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $19,092 and $19,904, respectively	28,572	40,437
Total Assets	4,623,791	4,561,050
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,014,333	1,948,047
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	228,215	313,885
Total Liabilities	2,242,548	2,261,932
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	144,009	144,802
Equity/Capital:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share), 28,892 and 28,920 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	28,892	28,920
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 103,266,875 and 101,665,554 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,033	1,017
Additional paid-in capital	2,929,399	2,850,881
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(747,344)	(749,412)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	7,838	4,949
Total Stockholders’ Equity	2,219,818	2,136,355
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,416	17,961
Total Equity/Capital:	2,237,234	2,154,316
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,623,791	4,561,050
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	485,956	474,375
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,590,490	4,313,373
Development in-process	88,452	279,602
Land held for development	74,765	77,355
Total real estate assets	5,239,663	5,144,705
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,202,424)	(1,134,103)
Net real estate assets	4,037,239	4,010,602
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	14,118	0
Cash and cash equivalents	3,272	49,490
Restricted cash	85,061	29,141
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $753 and $624, respectively	24,397	17,372
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $72 and $105, respectively	6,425	8,833
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $819 and $692, respectively	200,131	172,829
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,897	18,846
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $143,512 and $140,081, respectively	200,679	213,500
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $19,092 and $19,904, respectively	28,572	40,437
Total Assets	4,623,791	4,561,050
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,014,333	1,948,047
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	228,215	313,885
Total Liabilities	2,242,548	2,261,932
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,828,704 and 2,838,704 outstanding, respectively	144,009	144,802
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 28,892 and 28,920 units issued and outstanding, respectively	28,892	28,920
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	172,901	173,722
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 1,056,868 and 1,040,954 outstanding, respectively	21,830	21,023
Limited partner Common Units, 101,801,198 and 100,215,791 outstanding, respectively	2,161,258	2,081,463
Accumulated other comprehensive income	7,838	4,949
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,416	17,961
Total Equity/Capital:	2,208,342	2,125,396
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,623,791	$ 4,561,050