Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Minimum dividend required to maintain REIT status	$ 1.37	$ 0.99	$ 1.31
Tax basis of assets	$ 4,100,000	$ 4,000,000
Tax basis of liabilities	2,300,000	2,300,000
Increase to tax expense due to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act	100
Income Tax Expense/(Benefit) [Abstract]
Current federal tax expense/(benefit)	(177)	(38)	$ 949
Current state tax expense	105	89	351
Current tax expense	(72)	51	1,300
Deferred federal tax benefit	223	(160)	(233)
Deferred state tax expense/(benefit)	(9)	87	(115)
Deferred tax benefit	214	(73)	(348)
Total income tax expense/(benefit)	142	(22)	434
Net deferred tax liabilities	300	100
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Disposition of Wholly Owned Property [Member]
Income Tax Expense/(Benefit) [Abstract]
Income tax expense netted against gain	0	0	$ (518)
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Tax basis of assets	4,100,000	4,000,000
Tax basis of liabilities	$ 2,300,000	$ 2,300,000