Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 6,425		$ 8,833
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	1,286		7,619
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,388		2,451	$ 2,736
Total Assets	10,099		18,903
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,015,689		1,965,611
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)			1,870
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,388		2,451	$ 2,736	$ 3,635
Total Liabilities	2,018,077		1,969,932
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,388		2,451
Total Assets	2,388		2,451
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)			0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,388		2,451
Total Liabilities	2,388		2,451
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	6,425		8,833
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	1,286		7,619
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Total Assets	7,711		16,452
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,015,689		1,965,611
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)			1,870
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Total Liabilities	2,015,689		1,967,481
Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Impaired real estate assets		$ 5,900
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	144,009		144,802
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	144,009		144,802
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0		$ 0