Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations					$ 27,036	$ 33,840	$ 33,528	$ 28,142	$ 191,663	$ 122,546	$ 85,521
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations									(5,059)	(3,331)	(2,443)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ (325)	$ (315)	$ (299)	$ (300)	(312)	(319)	(314)	(308)	(1,239)	(1,253)	(1,264)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(624)	(624)	(627)	(626)	(2,492)	(2,501)	(2,506)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders									182,873	115,461	79,308
Income from discontinued operations					0	0	0	418,593	0	418,593	15,739
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations									0	(12,265)	(475)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders									0	406,328	15,264
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 56,570	$ 57,040	$ 37,589	$ 31,674	$ 25,380	$ 31,971	$ 31,648	$ 432,790	$ 182,873	$ 521,789	$ 94,572
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									102,682	98,439	94,404
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)					$ 0.25	$ 0.32	$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 1.78	$ 1.17	$ 0.84
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)					0.00	0.00	0.00	4.22	0.00	4.13	0.16
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.32	$ 0.32	$ 4.49	$ 1.78	$ 5.30	$ 1.00
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations					$ 27,036	$ 33,840	$ 33,528	$ 28,142	$ 191,663	$ 122,546	$ 85,521
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ (325)	$ (315)	$ (299)	$ (300)	(312)	(319)	(314)	(308)	(1,239)	(1,253)	(1,264)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	$ (623)	$ (623)	$ (623)	$ (623)	(624)	(624)	(627)	(626)	(2,492)	(2,501)	(2,506)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									187,932	118,792	81,751
Income from discontinued operations					$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 418,593	0	418,593	15,739
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									$ 187,932	$ 537,385	$ 97,490
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									102,682	98,439	94,404
Stock options using the treasury method									79	87	87
Noncontrolling interests Common Units									2,833	2,872	2,915
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)									105,594	101,398	97,406
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)					$ 0.25	$ 0.32	$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 1.78	$ 1.17	$ 0.84
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)					0.00	0.00	0.00	4.22	0.00	4.13	0.16
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.32	$ 0.32	$ 4.49	$ 1.78	$ 5.30	$ 1.00
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations					$ 27,036	$ 33,840	$ 33,528	$ 28,142	$ 191,663	$ 122,546	$ 85,521
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ (325)	$ (315)	$ (299)	$ (300)	(312)	(319)	(314)	(308)	(1,239)	(1,253)	(1,264)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(624)	(624)	(627)	(626)	(2,492)	(2,501)	(2,506)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders									187,932	118,792	81,751
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders					0	0	0	418,593	0	418,593	15,739
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 58,127	$ 58,611	$ 38,632	$ 32,562	$ 26,100	$ 32,897	$ 32,587	$ 445,801	$ 187,932	$ 537,385	$ 97,490
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									105,106	100,902	96,910
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)					$ 0.25	$ 0.32	$ 0.33	$ 0.28	$ 1.79	$ 1.18	$ 0.84
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)					0.00	0.00	0.00	4.23	0.00	4.15	0.17
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.32	$ 0.33	$ 4.51	$ 1.79	$ 5.33	$ 1.01
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations					$ 27,036	$ 33,840	$ 33,528	$ 28,142	$ 191,663	$ 122,546	$ 85,521
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ (325)	$ (315)	$ (299)	$ (300)	(312)	(319)	(314)	(308)	(1,239)	(1,253)	(1,264)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(624)	(624)	(627)	(626)	(2,492)	(2,501)	(2,506)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders									187,932	118,792	81,751
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders					0	0	0	418,593	0	418,593	15,739
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 58,127	$ 58,611	$ 38,632	$ 32,562	$ 26,100	$ 32,897	$ 32,587	$ 445,801	$ 187,932	$ 537,385	$ 97,490
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									105,106	100,902	96,910
Stock options using the treasury method									79	87	87
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)									105,185	100,989	96,997
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)					$ 0.25	$ 0.32	$ 0.33	$ 0.28	$ 1.79	$ 1.18	$ 0.84
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)					0.00	0.00	0.00	4.23	0.00	4.14	0.17
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.32	$ 0.33	$ 4.51	$ 1.79	$ 5.32	$ 1.01