Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 175,861	$ 180,185	$ 177,283	$ 169,408	$ 167,646	$ 166,269	$ 166,860	$ 164,859	$ 702,737	$ 665,634	$ 604,671
Income from continuing operations					27,036	33,840	33,528	28,142	191,663	122,546	85,521
Total income from discontinued operations					0	0	0	418,593	0	418,593	15,739
Net income	59,075	59,549	39,554	33,485	27,036	33,840	33,528	446,735	191,663	541,139	101,260
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,557)	(1,571)	(1,043)	(888)	(720)	(926)	(939)	(13,011)	(5,059)	(15,596)	(2,918)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(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)
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
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 - 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 Properties, Inc. [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									$ (5,059)	$ (15,596)
Net income available for common stockholders									182,873	521,789	$ 94,572
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 175,861	$ 180,185	$ 177,283	$ 169,408	$ 167,646	$ 166,269	$ 166,860	$ 164,859	702,737	665,634	604,671
Income from continuing operations					27,036	33,840	33,528	28,142	191,663	122,546	85,521
Total income from discontinued operations					0	0	0	418,593	0	418,593	15,739
Net income	59,075	59,549	39,554	33,485	27,036	33,840	33,528	446,735	191,663	541,139	101,260
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(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)
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
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 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