Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 5,659	$ 6,425
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	4,773	1,286
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,135	2,388
Total Assets	12,567	10,099
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,049,292	2,015,689
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,135	2,388
Total Liabilities	2,051,427	2,018,077
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0	0
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0	0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,135	2,388
Total Assets	2,135	2,388
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	0	0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,135	2,388
Total Liabilities	2,135	2,388
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	5,659	6,425
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	4,773	1,286
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0	0
Total Assets	10,432	7,711
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,049,292	2,015,689
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Total Liabilities	2,049,292	2,015,689
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	132,447	144,009
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	132,447	144,009
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0	$ 0