Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Rental and other revenues	$ 180,438	$ 169,408
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	59,432	57,396
Depreciation and amortization	57,568	56,145
General and administrative	11,778	11,490
Total operating expenses	128,778	125,031
Interest expense:
Contractual	17,705	17,023
Amortization of debt issuance costs	686	840
Total interest expense	18,391	17,863
Other income:
Interest and other income	455	684
Total other income	455	684
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	33,724	27,198
Gains on disposition of property	0	5,332
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	522	955
Net income	34,246	33,485
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(888)	(888)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(286)	(300)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(623)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 32,449	$ 31,674
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.31
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	103,324	101,738
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.31
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,165	104,661
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.4625	$ 0.440
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	$ 180,438	$ 169,408
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	59,432	57,396
Depreciation and amortization	57,568	56,145
General and administrative	11,778	11,490
Total operating expenses	128,778	125,031
Interest expense:
Contractual	17,705	17,023
Amortization of debt issuance costs	686	840
Total interest expense	18,391	17,863
Other income:
Interest and other income	455	684
Total other income	455	684
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	33,724	27,198
Gains on disposition of property	0	5,332
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	522	955
Net income	34,246	33,485
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(286)	(300)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 33,337	$ 32,562
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.31
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	105,730	104,167
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.31
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	105,756	104,252
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.4625	$ 0.44