Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Rental and other revenues	$ 179,417	$ 180,185	$ 538,647	$ 526,876
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	61,153	61,234	180,248	177,484
Depreciation and amortization	57,661	56,973	171,923	168,934
Impairments of real estate assets	0	1,445	0	1,445
General and administrative	9,551	9,247	30,869	29,787
Total operating expenses	128,365	128,899	383,040	377,650
Interest expense:
Contractual	16,719	16,395	51,579	48,763
Amortization of debt issuance costs	718	796	2,126	2,445
Total interest expense	17,437	17,191	53,705	51,208
Other income:
Interest and other income	818	558	1,735	1,806
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	0	0	826
Total other income	818	558	1,735	2,632
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	34,433	34,653	103,637	100,650
Gains on disposition of property	3	19,849	16,975	25,181
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	573	5,047	1,641	6,757
Net income	35,009	59,549	122,253	132,588
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(902)	(1,571)	(3,171)	(3,502)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(324)	(315)	(918)	(914)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(623)	(1,869)	(1,869)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 33,160	$ 57,040	$ 116,295	$ 126,303
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.55	$ 1.12	$ 1.23
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	103,471	103,237	103,408	102,489
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.55	$ 1.12	$ 1.23
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,333	106,145	106,256	105,402
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.4625	$ 0.440	$ 1.3875	$ 1.320
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	$ 179,417	$ 180,185	$ 538,647	$ 526,876
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	61,153	61,234	180,248	177,484
Depreciation and amortization	57,661	56,973	171,923	168,934
Impairments of real estate assets	0	1,445	0	1,445
General and administrative	9,551	9,247	30,869	29,787
Total operating expenses	128,365	128,899	383,040	377,650
Interest expense:
Contractual	16,719	16,395	51,579	48,763
Amortization of debt issuance costs	718	796	2,126	2,445
Total interest expense	17,437	17,191	53,705	51,208
Other income:
Interest and other income	818	558	1,735	1,806
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	0	0	826
Total other income	818	558	1,735	2,632
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	34,433	34,653	103,637	100,650
Gains on disposition of property	3	19,849	16,975	25,181
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	573	5,047	1,641	6,757
Net income	35,009	59,549	122,253	132,588
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(324)	(315)	(918)	(914)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)	(1,869)	(1,869)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 34,062	$ 58,611	$ 119,466	$ 129,805
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.55	$ 1.13	$ 1.24
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	105,866	105,660	105,808	104,914
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.55	$ 1.13	$ 1.24
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	105,924	105,736	105,847	104,993
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.4625	$ 0.44	$ 1.3875	$ 1.320