Consolidated Statements of Equity/Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partners' Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partners' Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			101,665,554
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 2,154,316	$ 2,125,396	$ 1,017	$ 28,920	$ 21,023	$ 2,081,463	$ 2,850,881	$ 4,949	$ 4,949	$ 17,961	$ 17,961	$ (749,412)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		9,134			91	9,043
Distributions on Common Units		(45,986)			(460)	(45,526)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(623)			(6)	(617)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			239,817
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	9,134		$ 2				9,132
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			2,000
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	102						102
Dividends on Common Stock	(44,917)											(44,917)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)											(623)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	4,972						4,972
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(466)	(466)								(466)	(466)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			110,748
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(15)			(15)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	3,783	3,783	$ 1		38	3,745	3,782
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		5,255			52	5,203
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(888)											(888)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(3)	(297)				300	300	(300)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	33,485	33,485			335	33,150						33,485
Other comprehensive income	936	936						936	936
Total comprehensive income	34,421	34,421
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2017			102,018,119
Balance at Mar. 31, 2017	$ 2,159,819	2,130,914	$ 1,020	28,905	21,070	2,086,164	2,868,869	5,885	5,885	17,795	17,795	(762,655)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	103,266,875		103,266,875
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 2,237,234	2,208,342	$ 1,033	28,892	21,830	2,161,258	2,929,399	7,838	7,838	17,416	17,416	(747,344)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		(1,029)			(10)	(1,019)
Distributions on Common Units		(48,858)			(488)	(48,370)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(623)			(6)	(617)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			(36,757)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	(1,029)		$ 0				(1,029)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			19,196
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	902						902
Dividends on Common Stock	(47,747)											(47,747)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)											(623)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	19,582						19,582
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(238)	(238)								(238)	(238)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			172,440
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(5)			(5)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,295	4,295	$ 1		43	4,252	4,294
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		20,707			207	20,500
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(888)											(888)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(3)	(283)				286	286	(286)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	34,246	34,246			342	33,904						34,246
Other comprehensive income	7,771	7,771						7,771	7,771
Total comprehensive income	$ 42,017	42,017
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018	103,421,754		103,421,754
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	$ 2,253,500	$ 2,224,613	$ 1,034	$ 28,887	$ 21,915	$ 2,169,625	$ 2,953,148	$ 15,609	$ 15,609	$ 17,464	$ 17,464	$ (762,642)