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		69,833			698	69,135
Distributions on Common Units		(92,087)			(920)	(91,167)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(1,246)			(12)	(1,234)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			1,453,935
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	69,833		$ 15				69,818
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			6,000
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	305						305
Dividends on Common Stock	(89,952)											(89,952)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,246)											(1,246)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	287						287
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(858)	(858)								(858)	(858)
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	4,837	4,837	$ 0		48	4,789	4,837
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		796			7	789
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,931)											(1,931)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(6)	(593)				599	599	(599)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	73,039	73,039			730	72,309						73,039
Other comprehensive income	1,097	1,097						1,097	1,097
Total comprehensive income	74,136	74,136
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2017			103,236,237
Balance at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 2,209,712	2,180,807	$ 1,032	28,905	21,568	2,135,491	2,926,128	6,046	6,046	17,702	17,702	(770,101)
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		415			4	411
Distributions on Common Units		(97,800)			(978)	(96,822)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(1,246)			(12)	(1,234)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			(3,396)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	415		$ 0				415
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			23,196
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	1,084						1,084
Dividends on Common Stock	(95,579)											(95,579)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,246)											(1,246)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	272						272
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(543)	(543)								(543)	(543)
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	5,468	5,468	$ 2		55	5,413	5,466
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		1,308			13	1,295
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,269)											(2,269)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(6)	(588)				594	594	(594)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	87,244	87,244			872	86,372						87,244
Other comprehensive income	8,118	8,118						8,118	8,118
Total comprehensive income	$ 95,362	95,362
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018	103,459,115		103,459,115
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	$ 2,240,193	$ 2,211,306	$ 1,035	$ 28,887	$ 21,778	$ 2,156,105	$ 2,936,636	$ 15,956	$ 15,956	$ 17,467	$ 17,467	$ (759,788)